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<p>The provision of free school meals to children from out-of-work or low income families
is of the utmost importance to this government.</p><p>Under the benefits-related criteria,
the department provides a free healthy meal to around 1.7 million children. This ensures
they are well nourished and can concentrate, learn, and achieve in the classroom.</p><p>The
department spends around £600 million per year to ensure an additional 1.3 million
infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime, following the introduction
of the universal infant free school meal (UIFSM) policy in 2014.</p><p>Under this
government, eligibility for free school meals has been extended several times to more
groups of children than any other government over the past half a century. This includes
the introduction of UIFSM and further education free meals.</p><p>We think it is right
that provision is aimed at supporting the most disadvantaged, those out of work or
on the lowest incomes. We do not have any plans to extend universal provision. but
we will continue to keep all free school meal eligibility under review, to ensure
that these meals are supporting those who most need them.</p><p>The department is
also permanently extending free school meal eligibility to children from all groups
with no recourse to public funds. This will come into effect for the start of the
2022 academic year summer term.</p>
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