Debate on public sector food procurement and healthy eating
A Westminster Hall debate has been scheduled for 4.30pm on 12 December on public sector food procurement and healthy eating. The debate will be opened by Anthony Mangnall MP.

Examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on schools and pupils in England. Updated following the end of public health restrictions, in February 2022
Coronavirus and schools (515 KB , PDF)
This briefing paper looks at the coronavirus pandemic and schools. It largely focuses on England. It has been updated following the removal of remaining public health restrictions, in February 2022.
It covers attendance rates, pupil coronavirus testing, operational issues for schools, and education recovery.
This is a fast-moving issue and this briefing should be read as correct at the time of publication.
Early in the pandemic, survey evidence indicated wide disparities in young people’s home learning experiences during the initial spring 2020 school attendance restrictions. There have been particular concerns about the impacts on disadvantaged children. Further evidence is now starting to emerge on the extent of the academic, mental and physical health impacts of the initial and subsequent attendance restrictions.
The Government is funding tutoring and other schemes to address the impacts of missing face-to-face provision. It has also provided some additional money to support pupils’ and teachers’ mental health and wellbeing.
The Department for Education (DfE) has made some additional funding available for free school meals, exceptional cleaning costs, catch-up funding and tutoring, laptops and digital devices, teacher training, and supply staff costs.
However, concerns remain about whether total education recovery funding announced to date is sufficient. There are also debates about how recovery funding should be spent.
At the autumn Budget/ Spending Review (SR) 2021, the Government announced an additional £1.8bn over the SR period, for education recovery. Much of this (£1bn) is for the Recovery Premium for the next two academic years. This is formulaic funding paid on a per-head basis to schools in England. In 2021-22, this can be spent on a range of support, including support to “deal with non-academic barriers to success in school, such as attendance, behaviour and social and emotional support”.
Whilst the additional funding was welcomed, some remain concerned that it is insufficient, with the Education Policy Institute saying that the total amount allocated is “still some way off the £13.5bn that our research has shown is needed to reverse the damage done to children’s education”. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) also noted that the additional circa £4.9 billion in total for England fell “a long way short” of the £15bn reportedly recommended by the then-Education Recovery Commissioner, Sir Kevan Collins.
Coronavirus and schools (515 KB , PDF)
A Westminster Hall debate has been scheduled for 4.30pm on 12 December on public sector food procurement and healthy eating. The debate will be opened by Anthony Mangnall MP.
This briefing provides information and the key issues on home education in England as well as current and past proposals for reform.
Briefing on Government and NHS policy on cancer in England and cancer research.