Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Laws and Eric Ollerenshaw

Monday 19th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laws]

We intend to make an announcement on this matter shortly.

[Eric Ollerenshaw (Lancaster and Fleetwood) (Con)]

T6. Will any of the capital programme be available for small village schools, such as Scorton and Winmarleigh primary schools in my constituency, so that real dining spaces can be created? At the moment, they face the daily burden of turning classrooms into dining rooms and dining rooms into classrooms as they carry out the new free school meals policy.

[Mr Laws]

I can reassure my hon. Friend that the Government have now allocated a total of £175 million to support the universal infant free school meal policy with extra capital. In addition, local authorities have the £1.2 billion maintenance budget from the Department each year, and they are at liberty to use it in any way they want.