Written question asked by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 January 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 12 January 2012. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Free Schools

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason academies and free schools opened since September 2010 are not required to adhere to mandatory nutritional standards.

Answer: Academies and free schools are required to provide lunches where there is demand and free school meals where appropriate. Those opening from September 2010 are free to promote healthy eating and good nutrition as they see fit. We have no reason to believe that they will not provide healthy, balanced meals that meet the current nutritional regulatory standards.In order to assess any changes in school food provision in schools which have converted to academy status, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has asked the School Food Trust to undertake a qualitative study of the approach taken by academies to providing healthy school food. We expect the results to be published in the spring this year.

Secondary information