Autumn Statement

Luciana Berger Excerpts

Thursday 5th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Osborne]

My hon. Friend led an effective and powerful campaign on behalf of his constituents and other former miners who had lost their concessionary fuel allowance because of the collapse of the company they had worked for. I stepped in to help because he and others, including my hon. Friends the Members for Sherwood (Mr Spencer), for Nuneaton (Mr Jones) and for North Warwickshire (Dan Byles), came to talk to me about the matter. It was a simple case of doing the right thing and, thanks to my hon. Friend, we have done it.

[Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree) (Lab/Co-op)]

Will the Chancellor confirm press reports this morning that his free school meal announcement has resulted in an £80 million raid on the school building budget of the Department for Education?

[Mr Osborne]

No, the £80 million is additional.