§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 26 January 2004,Official Report, column 145W, on school meals, who has statutory responsibility for the provision of school meals if the governing body of a school resigns. [152219]
§ Mr. MilibandSchool meal provision is the responsibility of the governing body of a school if the school's delegated budget share included funding for meals. If the members of the governing body of such a school all resigned, the governing body would still exist as a corporate entity and would retain the statutory responsibility for meals provision. Although the head teacher would be able to exercise decision-taking powers in accordance with any formal delegation previously agreed by the governing body, it would be for the local education authority to make arrangements as soon as possible for the reconstitution of the governing body membership.