Oral Answers to Questions

David Burton-Sampson Excerpts

Monday 9th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Matt Turmaine (Watford) (Lab)]

4. What steps she is taking to increase the availability of breakfast clubs in primary schools.

[David Burton-Sampson (Southend West and Leigh) (Lab)]

5. What steps she is taking to increase the availability of breakfast clubs in primary schools.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Morgan]

This Government are committed to making quick progress to deliver on our commitment to offer a free breakfast club in every primary school to ensure that children are ready to learn at the start of the school day. The Chancellor has announced a tripling of investment in breakfast clubs, driving improvements to behaviour, attendance and attainment and, for parents, more choices over childcare.

[David Burton-Sampson]

I have contacted all the primary schools in my constituency to encourage them to become early adopters. Child poverty in my constituency stands at 12.1%, and food bank use has risen by 433% over the last five years. Does my hon. Friend agree that breakfast clubs will be part of the solution by helping to lift children out of poverty, giving them food in their belly to start the school day and encouraging their parents back into part-time employment?

[Stephen Morgan]

Parents and carers up and down the country are still struggling with the cost of living. As part of our mission to bring down barriers to opportunity, breakfast clubs give parents and carers the confidence that their child can access a breakfast, should they need one, and we are supporting families to work with the cost of childcare. It is a pity that the Conservatives cannot say whether they back our plan to deliver better life chances for all children in all parts of the country.