Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Emma Lewell-Buck Excerpts
Monday 29th January 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nadhim Zahawi Portrait Nadhim Zahawi
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No local authority needs to cut those services. There is actually over £9 billion being invested in children’s services because, as in the case of Hackney, for example, it is seen as a priority, so there is no reason for a local authority to do that.

Emma Lewell-Buck Portrait Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)
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I, too, welcome the Minister to his place. The healthy pupils fund was designed to help pupils with a range of health needs. The Department promised to protect the fund in full but has cut it, leaving a £200 million gap between income from the sugar levy and its spending commitments. Can the Minister explain why he is content to see funding in this area slashed, and will he guarantee that there will be no more cuts?

Nadhim Zahawi Portrait Nadhim Zahawi
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Not only is the Department spending the £275 million from the sugar levy; we are going over and above that. We are spending over £400 million on making sure that students are healthy.