Oral QuestionDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 14 November 2024Answered: 20 November 2024

Asked by

Ruth Jones

LabourNewport West and Islwyn

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for Education (Lucy Powell)

Today we are introducing a once-in-a-generation change to school food, making it tastier and healthier and giving over half a million more children free school meals. We have worked with schools, pupils, parents and many more to ensure that these meals are of good quality, attractive to children and deliverable for schools. With free breakfast clubs and a huge expansion of free school meals under this Government, children will be better able to concentrate and learn. I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister for the early years, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochdale (Paul Waugh)—this also happens to be his Dispatch Box debut.