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Written Question
Adoption Support Fund
Thursday 10th February 2022

Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has for (a) extension of, (b) the size of and (c) changes to the operation of the Adoption Support Fund following the end of 2021-22.

Answered by Will Quince

On 1 February 2022, we announced that the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) will continue to offer invaluable support to eligible adoptive and special guardianship families up to March 2025. This will take us to the 10th consecutive year of funding for the ASF.

Further announcements on the scope, budget, and operation of the ASF from April 2022 will be made shortly.


Written Question
Teachers: Coronavirus
Wednesday 23rd September 2020

Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether (a) primary school teachers and (b) other teaching staff who have been in contact with a school bubble in which there has been a confirmed case of covid-19 and who have been asked to self-isolate but are asymptomatic are eligible for a covid-19 test.

Answered by Nick Gibb

Unless an individual has been specifically asked to do so by a clinician, it is vital that only those who have developed symptoms of COVID-19 get tested. The NHS Test and Trace system must stay focused on testing those with symptoms of COVID-19. The test is most effective for those who are experiencing symptoms.

Anyone who is self isolating as a result of being a close contact of a confirmed case but does not have symptoms should not request a test. This includes if that case was identified in school or college.

The latest clinical advice is that testing of individuals without symptoms should only be used where clinically appropriate, predominantly for outbreak investigation and infection control. This risk based approach ensures that testing is targeted where it is most effective.

All children, young people and staff have access to a test if they display symptoms of COVID-19 and should get tested in this scenario.


Written Question
Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes
Monday 11th May 2020

Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the costs to schools who wish to access free school meals vouchers from retailers not listed on the Government’s National Voucher Scheme will be reimbursed in full.

Answered by Vicky Ford

As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

Through the national voucher scheme, schools and families could initially access eGift cards for Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose and M&S. On Monday 27 April Aldi were added to this list and on Wednesday 29 April McColl’s were also added. We recognise that it may not be convenient or possible for some families to visit one of these supermarkets and we are continuing to work to see if additional supermarkets can be added to this list.

Where none of these supermarkets are convenient for families, schools can directly purchase vouchers for alternative supermarkets and be reimbursed for the costs.

Full details are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.


Written Question
Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes
Monday 11th May 2020

Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support the Government is giving to schools who wish to access free school meals vouchers from a retailer not listed on the Government’s National Voucher Scheme.

Answered by Vicky Ford

As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

Through the national voucher scheme, schools and families could initially access eGift cards for Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose and M&S. On Monday 27 April Aldi were added to this list and on Wednesday 29 April McColl’s were also added. We recognise that it may not be convenient or possible for some families to visit one of these supermarkets and we are continuing to work to see if additional supermarkets can be added to this list.

Where none of these supermarkets are convenient for families, schools can directly purchase vouchers for alternative supermarkets and be reimbursed for the costs.

Full details are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.