Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I know that none of us is anxious at this stage of our country’s history to add to the public costs, but there is an issue of equity here. The previous Bill made education compulsory for 16 to 18 year-olds. They are now in exactly the same legal capacity as five to 16 year-olds—they are required to be in education or training—and it seems only equitable to consider at least some kind of subsidy for their meals. I am sure that in reply the Minister will tell us about the education maintenance grant that is already received by these young people, but the point is that it is already received for other purposes; it is not for the purpose of their meals. There is a real issue. The proposal is perhaps a long-term aspiration of what ought to happen, but it may not be immediately possible given the country’s financial straits.