Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of halal food served in schools.

The department does not collect information on the proportion of halal food served in schools.

The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the School Food Standards. The standards do not specify food requirements in terms of cultural and religious needs. Headteachers, governors and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies, taking into account cultural, religious and special dietary needs and by working with parents.