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.

A broad overview of the legislative framework for child protection and child safeguarding in England.
An overview of child protection legislation in England (366 KB , PDF)
The child protection system in England is grounded in the Children Act 1989, as amended. Statutory guidance published by the Government, Working Together to Safeguard Children, provides detailed information on the core legal requirements.
The Children Act 1989 establishes several key principles, including
The Act places a general duty on local authorities to promote and safeguard the welfare of children in need in their area by providing a range of services appropriate to those children’s needs (section 17). It additionally sets out what a local authority must do when it has reasonable cause to suspect that a child in its area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm (section 47).
Section 31 of the Act sets out the circumstances under which a court may make an order placing a child in local authority care (a care order). The Act also sets out the functions of local authorities in relation to looked after children, including a duty under section 22(3) to safeguard and promote their welfare.
Under the Children Act 2004, a range of agencies, including local authorities, the police and health services, are under a duty to ensure they consider the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children when carrying out their functions (section 11). A similar duty is placed on other agencies (for example, schools) by other legislation.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 amended the Children Act 2004 to establish new local arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
A central feature of the new arrangements is that three safeguarding partners – the local authority, NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and police forces – are responsible for determining how safeguarding arrangements should work in their area for them and relevant agencies.
In February 2023, the Government published an implementation strategy and consultation on reforming children’s social care in England: Stable Homes, Built on Love.
Over the next two years, the Government plans to invest £200 million “addressing urgent issues facing children and families now, laying the foundations for whole system reform and setting national direction for change.”
Among other things, £45 million will be used to launch a ‘Families First for Children Pathfinder’ programme in up to 12 local areas in England. The pathfinders will test several things, including:
Further information is provided in the Library briefing: Government proposals for children’s social care reform.
An overview of child protection legislation in England (366 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.
There will be a Backbench Business Committee debate on the provision of auditory verbal therapy taking place in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 12 December at 9:30am. The debate will be led by Sally-Ann Hart MP.
Statistics on the fees in a child maintenance application, and the enforcement steps taken when child maintenance is not paid on time or in full.