Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab) Children are going hungry
inside crumbling schools; that, sadly, is the legacy of 14 years of
mismanagement by successive Conservative Governments. When the
newly elected Labour Government talk about fixing the foundations,
this is where that mission begins: investing in our future, giving
our children the best possible start and supporting working people
across the United Kingdom. The roll-out of Government funding for
breakfast...Request free trial
Mr (Slough) (Lab)
Children are going hungry inside crumbling schools; that, sadly,
is the legacy of 14 years of mismanagement by successive
Conservative Governments. When the newly elected Labour
Government talk about fixing the foundations, this is where that
mission begins: investing in our future, giving our children the
best possible start and supporting working people across the
United Kingdom. The roll-out of Government funding for breakfast
clubs for primary school children is one of the first steps in
mending the broken bedrock of our country.
If I may ask, Madam Deputy Speaker, how do you feel when you have
not had a decent meal before work? Sluggish? Irritable?
Distracted? I can speak only from my own experience—you do not
have to answer, Madam Deputy Speaker, as the question is
rhetorical. But I am sure other hon. Members will agree that
debating, holding advice surgeries and meeting stakeholders are
all a challenge on an empty stomach. Why would it be any
different for a young child, especially during such an important
developmental period? Every day, young children are growing,
learning and socialising. Their lives are being shaped, and they
are beginning their journey of growing up, preparing to face
real-world challenges and taking up the mantle of the next
generation. Are rumbling stomachs conducive to that?
Breakfast clubs allow all children, no matter the socioeconomic
background they are born into or the familial challenges they
face, to have a nutritious, decent meal to energise and fuel them
during their busy days of learning. Success at school should not
depend on a stable family life. According to the Sutton Trust,
38% of state school teachers have seen growing numbers of pupils
coming to school hungry.
(Milton Keynes Central)
(Lab)
Does my hon. Friend agree that in places like Milton Keynes,
where one in four children lives in poverty but fewer than that
qualified for the old free school meals programme, having a
breakfast club destigmatises the situation and catches those
families who are struggling to make ends meet? These families
might be working, but they did not qualify under the previous
scheme.
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about the importance of
free breakfast clubs in getting rid of the stigma.
One in 10 young people lives in a household classed as food
insecure. During the covid pandemic, pupils from families using
food banks attained, on average, GCSE grades half a grade lower
than their peers. We know that working people are facing some of
the toughest economic conditions in decades. The price of
essentials has skyrocketed, childcare has become a luxury for
many, and many parents feel as though they have been left out in
the cold as they continue to do their level best to give their
children a better future.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. There is
such a crowd in the Chamber because we all agree with him.
Northern Ireland launched the extended schools programme in May
2006. Since then, some £167 million has been given to the most
disadvantaged areas to offer a wide range of services, including
free breakfast clubs, and it has been successful. Does the hon.
Gentleman agree that the Government and Parliament must provide
greater central funding to ensure that all UK schools can offer
free breakfast clubs to give children a good breakfast to boost
their energy levels for the day? Quite simply, hungry children do
not learn.
Mr Dhesi
I fully agree with the hon. Gentleman. He is right both to
highlight Northern Ireland and to make the wider point. He is a
regular feature of Adjournment debates, and I feel honoured that
he has intervened on me.
The Minister and the Government need only see the number of
Members in the Chamber at half-past 9, here to speak on behalf of
their constituents and underline the importance of universal
breakfast clubs. The Institute for Fiscal Studies reports that
families whose children use breakfast clubs five days a week
during term time save a staggering £760, which is a significant
saving for working parents. With the roll-out of funded breakfast
clubs, imagine the money that could remain in the pockets of
working families in Slough and beyond.
(Wolverhampton West)
(Lab)
Does my hon. Friend agree that in a constituency such as
Wolverhampton West the provision of breakfast clubs for primary
school children targets a number of issues? First, it gives
children a nutritious meal so that they do not go to school
hungry. Secondly, it allows them to socialise with other children
before the school day starts. And thirdly, it enables parents to
go to work knowing that their children are well provided for in a
safe environment.
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend raises exactly the points I will come to later in
my speech—he has spoken very correctly. There are not just
financial or moral incentives for free breakfast clubs. In Wales,
where universal free breakfast clubs have been rolled out, we
have seen the scheme's educational benefits. The Institute for
Fiscal Studies found that attendance at breakfast clubs resulted
in improved healthy eating, a reduction in children skipping
breakfast and raised attainment for pupils from the age of
seven.
(Halesowen) (Lab)
My hon. Friend is making an excellent speech about an issue that
everyone in the House agrees on. I was lucky enough to visit
Manor Way primary school in my constituency, which runs a
breakfast club. An issue that the school raised, which has also
been raised by the Department for Education, is that children on
free school meals are less likely to use breakfast clubs than
other children. Does my hon. Friend agree that as we roll out
breakfast clubs to 700 schools across the country, we must focus
on ensuring pupils on free school meals are able to access
breakfast clubs as well as possible?
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. There needs to be a
universal roll-out. All pupils should benefit, but the positive
impact on those who currently rely on free school meals cannot be
overstated.
Positive effects have been passed on to pupils who do not attend
breakfast clubs. Their results have improved because of calmer,
more focused classroom environments. The improvements to
children's attainment and morale that have been seen in Wales
cannot be ignored.
(Lichfield) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. He may
not know that I was a teacher for almost seven years in north
Birmingham. I used to regularly see 11 and 12-year-old kids
coming into school having had no breakfast, and with their lunch
for the day being a bag of Haribo sweets and a one litre bottle
of energy drink. Unsurprisingly, those kids had a
disproportionate number of detentions and behavioural incidents,
particularly in the afternoons, when they had a sugar crash. Does
my hon. Friend agree that far too often the provision of healthy
and nutritious food by breakfast clubs can be overlooked?
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend speaks with a great deal of experience. I am sure
the Minister and his team will take the contributions made by
hon. Members on board because they are setting out how we will
make a positive impact on the lives of those in our communities.
That is what we were elected to do, drawing on our various
diverse experiences, backgrounds and perspectives.
Breakfast clubs provide further potential benefits. As my hon.
Friends have highlighted, a proper sit-down breakfast, among
peers, not only allows children to access healthy food, but
encourages the building of interpersonal relationships and the
progression of social skills—key aspects of a child's development
that are often overlooked in an educational setting. Will the
Minister assure me that universal breakfast clubs will not only
provide a healthy meal for young children, but also facilitate
and encourage development of vital social skills?
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
My hon. Friend is making a fantastic speech. York Hungry Minds is
currently carrying out a pilot project examining what happens
when schools have breakfast clubs and universal free school
meals. Does he agree that we need to look at the outcome of that
evidence to determine whether some children also require a free
school meal in the middle of the day, as well as at the start of
the day, to ensure that there is equity in the outcomes we are
seeking?
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend speaks with a great deal of experience. I have
seen over the last seven or eight years in the House that she has
done a great deal of work to counter poverty and some of the
worst problems that our society faces. Everything should be
evidence based. It is important that the Government build on that
to help our communities further.
Dr (Stoke-on-Trent South)
(Lab)
As a biologist and teacher, I believe that linking breakfast
clubs with dental hygiene practices will have a significant
impact on the long-term health of our children, and indeed of our
adult population, and eventually on the NHS and our economy. Does
my hon. Friend agree?
Mr Dhesi
I fully agree. My hon. Friend also speaks from experience. I can
see many teachers present, and people who are a lot more
knowledgeable than I am. I thank her for her contribution. I hope
that all Members' contributions will be considered by the
Government, because of the far-reaching impact that their
suggestions would have.
As the MP for Slough, I have a particular interest in this
matter, which is why I applied for the debate, and I am grateful
to the House authorities for granting it. A quarter of my
constituents are under the age of 15, which is why I say that we
are the youth capital of Britain. Sadly, however, 21% of children
in Slough live in relative poverty, and 14% live in absolute
poverty. Nearly 7,000 are eligible for free school meals, and the
roll-out of breakfast clubs will provide thousands of my Slough
constituents with a better start in life.
Sarah (Hyndburn) (Lab)
The statistics in Hyndburn are even more shocking, with 38% of
children growing up in poverty. Today, statistics from the Social
Mobility Commission outlined that one in three children across
the UK are growing up in poverty. That is the inheritance that we
received, and it is evident from the empty Conservative Benches
that not everyone in the House takes the issue seriously. Does my
hon. Friend agree that it is important that the roll-out of the
pilot targets communities, such as ours, that have the highest
levels of deprivation, where we know it will have the most
impact?
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend has been a passionate advocate for her
constituents, particularly on these issues. She is 100% right. As
I said in my introductory sentences, where are His Majesty's
loyal Opposition? No Conservative Members are present. It is
important that those who feel passionately advocate on behalf of
their constituents in the Chamber.
(Bournemouth East) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for calling the debate, and everybody who
has contributed to it. As somebody who grew up in significant
financial hardship, I know the importance of receiving a warm
meal from a school or club. Will he join me in commending the
work of Pokesdown community primary school and the leadership of
Alison Bayliss and Chef Russ in providing nutritious meals to the
children at Pokesdown? Will he also commend LOVECHURCH
Bournemouth for providing a free breakfast to many children in
the local community? Will he reflect on the fact that the
Opposition Benches are deserted? After 14 years in government,
the Conservatives really should put somebody up to explain what
they did so wrong.
Mr Dhesi
I thank my hon. Friend for his passionate remarks, with which I
concur. I commend the great work being done in his constituency.
It is important that individuals realise some of the damage that
they have done over the last 14 years, which has led to crumbling
schools and to children being unable to concentrate in
school.
A better chance for children to reach their potential and escape
the vicious cycle of poverty can be attained. To ensure that, I
ask the Minister when we can expect the roll-out of free
breakfast clubs to be fully implemented. Will that require new
legislation? If so, what is the timeframe?
Mr (Leyton and Wanstead)
(Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for ensuring that this important subject
is highlighted in the House. In my constituency, schools such as
Connaught school for girls ensure that every child receives a
free school meal at the start of the day through charities such
as Magic Breakfast, which enable up to 200,000 pupils across both
in England and Scotland to receive that privilege. However, does
he agree that it should not be down to clubs and advocacy groups
to ensure that provision, and rather it should be done through
policy driven by Government?
Mr Dhesi
I thank my hon. Friend and fellow member of the Defence
Committee—not only has he been a passionate advocate on defence,
but he has advocated for his constituents on numerous matters
today. I fully concur with his views. I have attended various
Magic Breakfast events and seen some of the great work done by
charities; it is wonderful and heartening to see that there are
people who care within our community, but it should not be just
up to charities. This is an issue affecting everybody within
society, and it is great to see a new Labour Government taking
leadership on it.
(Chelsea and Fulham) (Lab)
In the Fulham part of my constituency, children in primary
schools have enjoyed free breakfasts since 2019. The council
initially negotiated that from developers and now it pays for
them itself. It has also started providing free school lunches at
one of the schools in Fulham. Does my hon. Friend agree that the
threshold for children to receive free school meals is currently
far too high, and that we ought to be aiming for every child to
be given a free breakfast and a free lunch, to avoid the stigma
that can damage children's confidence and impair their
performance?
Mr Dhesi
It is wonderful to see some of the work happening within my hon.
Friend's constituency. That is another aspect of this debate,
because normally his constituency would be associated with being
more affluent, but among all of our constituencies there are
pockets of serious social deprivation and children going without
the meals that are required. I am sure that the Minister will
have heard his views and I am hopeful that in due course that is
something that the Government may well be able to implement.
Free breakfast clubs are about fighting not only poverty, but
obesity. In Slough, shockingly, 26% of children aged 11 to 12 are
obese. We also see a higher-than-average prevalence of
cardiovascular diseases.
(Torbay) (LD)
“Tired, hungry and cold.” That is how one headteacher told me a
number of her pupils came to school feeling, when I visited a
primary school in Torbay last week. I was impressed with how her
team was supporting those youngsters, both emotionally and with
material support, whether for hunger or for feeling cold. It was
very sad that one of the pupils was showing a blanket to others
because it was keeping them warm. Does the hon. Gentleman agree
that the more opportunities we give for youngsters in our schools
to get warm meals, the more we can drive positive change for our
communities?
Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms )
Order. I can tell from the number of contributions that this
debate is important to many colleagues. However, Members should
be here at the beginning of the debate if they wish to make
interventions.
Mr Dhesi
Thank you very much for that clarification, Madam Deputy Speaker.
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention; he is 100%
right. I take this moment also to pay tribute to the amazing
teachers and staff at schools who go way beyond the call of duty
to look after children, and who are faced not only with young
hungry children, but sometimes with children who do not even have
clean uniforms because, with the cost of living pressures, their
families cannot get their school uniforms washed regularly.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this important debate. I want
to raise the work that our teachers and school staff do to ensure
that our children get a hot meal at lunch time—and now,
hopefully, in the morning as well. We must ensure that we give
our children the best start on a school day, and the roll-out of
breakfast clubs will help us to do that.
Mr Dhesi
My hon. Friend is 100% right. I hope that teachers and teaching
staff will take comfort and solace from the fact that policies
are now being implemented to help, rather than hinder, them. They
will be able to do their primary duty of educating kids and
broadening their horizons, rather than having to worry about
feeding and clothing them in an appropriate manner.
Healthy habits start early. What consideration will be given to
the nutritional value of meals provided to children? As the
Minister will know, ensuring that all children are given a
nutritious and healthy meal when they come to school will improve
not only attainment, but health outcomes. It is not just children
whose lives will be improved via access to breakfast clubs,
because indirect economic benefits will also stem from this
scheme. Right now, 20% of mothers who have their youngest child
in primary school are unemployed, and 35% are in part-time
employment. With childcare costs ballooning, greater access to
round-the-clock care will mean that parents do not have their
careers dictated by the school run. Parents will have more
support and independence to find full-time employment.
(North East Somerset and Hanham) (Lab)
rose—
Mr Dhesi
I will give way to the former Mayor of West of England, no
less.
Does my hon. Friend share my dismay that the Opposition Benches
are empty, although this is such an important issue for rural
communities such as the one I represent, where the geography
makes social isolation a big issue? Breakfast clubs are very
important in dealing with that isolation, and I am amazed that
there are not more, or indeed any, Members on the Opposition
Benches.
Mr Dhesi
Given his experience from his mayoral role, my hon. Friend will
be fully cognisant of some of the issues faced by our rural
communities. Yes, it is flabbergasting to see not a single member
of His Majesty's Opposition on those Benches, because they should
highlight these issues.
(North Devon) (LD)
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this debate and
taking so many good interventions. My constituency is very rural,
and schools are already suffering with funding. Does he agree
that schools must be given sufficient funding to provide this
service, because their budgets are very stretched? We must ensure
that this scheme is properly funded—and that rural areas get the
funding that is needed, and that it is not all about big urban
areas.
Mr Dhesi
The hon. Gentleman served as a council leader, and has made an
excellent point about funding. How will this provision be
effectively funded, to help our schools, and how will we ensure
that councils can provide that extra support as and where
required? I am sure the Minister will have heard the point that
he eloquently made.
Free breakfast clubs do not just alleviate the strain on
lower-income families; they also level the playing field for men
and women in work. That is just part of this Government's mission
to smash the glass ceiling, as well as the class ceiling. With
381,000 pupils currently using breakfast clubs every day, it is
essential to ensure that those who want to access them can do so.
What steps are the Government taking to ensure that families are
made aware of this important service, as universal breakfast
clubs are gradually rolled out?
Universal breakfast clubs will ensure that when our children turn
up to school, they are learning and developing, fuelled by
healthy, nutritious food. After all, breakfast is the most
important meal of the day.
9.44pm
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi) for
securing a debate on this important subject, and for his
characteristically passionate contribution on behalf of his
constituents. I also thank all those who have made interventions
tonight.
This Government believe that all children deserve access to a
brilliant education, regardless of who they are, where they come
from or their parents' income. We want to work hand in hand with
the sector to deliver a system that means that children start
school ready to learn, ready to seize opportunities and ready to
get on in life. The Government made a manifesto commitment to
introduce free breakfast clubs for primary school children, and
we confirmed in the autumn Budget that we will triple our
investment in breakfast clubs to more than £30 million in the
2025-26 financial year. That funding will support breakfast clubs
in up to 750 early adopter schools from as early as April next
year, as part of our test-and-learn phase, ahead of national
roll-out. I urge my hon. Friend to encourage schools in his
constituency to apply when bidding opens. That is the first step
in the Government's commitment to funding breakfast clubs in all
state schools with primary-aged children.
That investment includes our continued support for 2,700 schools
that are on the existing national school breakfast programme. One
of those schools is Montem Academy, a primary school in Slough in
my hon. Friend's constituency. Breakfast clubs will remove
barriers to opportunity by ensuring that primary school children,
no matter their circumstance, are ready to start the school day.
That will help to drive improvements in behaviour, attendance and
attainment. Breakfast clubs offer much more than just food. They
can serve as a welcoming space for children, providing valuable
opportunities for them to play, learn and socialise at the
beginning of the school day. They will also provide families with
more affordable childcare choices and increase parents' ability
to work more hours. It is important that children eat healthily
across the school day. Breakfast clubs in every primary school,
along with the continued provision of free school meals to
disadvantaged children, will play an important role in combating
hunger and making sure that children can listen and concentrate
throughout the school day.
As my hon. Friend identifies, it is important that children eat
nutritious food at school. The school food standards define the
foods and drinks that must be provided, those that are restricted
and those that must not be provided. They apply to food and drink
provided to pupils on school premises and during an extended
school day up to 6 pm. That includes breakfast clubs. Compliance
with standards is mandatory for maintained schools, academies and
free schools. The standards restrict foods high in fat, salt and
sugar, including high-sugar foods and confectionery. They ensure
that children get the energy and nutrition that they need across
the school day, and that pupils always have healthy options.
My hon. Friend asked about timeframes. He will know that we have
already taken decisive action by announcing in the King's Speech
that, under the children's wellbeing Bill, every primary school
in England will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for
breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty that
they need. I can confirm that the Bill will come to the House as
soon as parliamentary time allows.
In conclusion, I once again thank my hon. Friend for securing a
debate on this important topic. I look forward to working with
him and other hon. and right hon. Members across the House who
have contributed to tonight's debate, as we deliver our manifesto
commitment on free breakfast clubs in all primary schools to
secure the best start in life for every child, in every part of
the country.
Question put and agreed to.
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