Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Field of Birkenhead Excerpts
Monday 24th June 2019

(4 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nadhim Zahawi Portrait Nadhim Zahawi
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May I add my congratulations, Mr Speaker, on your 10 years in the Chair?

The consultation will be published very, very shortly.

Lord Field of Birkenhead Portrait Frank Field (Birkenhead) (Ind)
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When do the Government expect to announce a national free school dinner scheme for poorer children during the holidays, based on the successful pilots the Department has been running over the past two years?

Nadhim Zahawi Portrait Nadhim Zahawi
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I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, who helped to make sure those pilots happened. We are investing £9 million in holiday activities and food programmes. This summer, children in 11 local authorities will receive healthy meals, learn about the importance of healthy eating and enjoy enriching physical activities during the summer holiday. Decisions on the programme beyond March 2020 will be taken as part of the spending review, but I certainly think it has been a great success.