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<p>I refer the noble Lord to the answers I gave on 6 February 2019 to Question <a
href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-01-24/HL13093/"
target="_blank">HL13093</a> and Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-01-24/HL13094/"
target="_blank">HL13094</a>. I will also refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave
on 20 February 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-02-06/HL13492/"
target="_blank">HL13492</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Under the new eligibility criteria that
we introduced in April 2018, we estimate that more pupils will benefit from free school
meals (FSM) by 2022, compared with the previous criteria. In addition, generous transitional
protections were put in place to ensure no child will lose their eligibility for FSM
during the change to the new criteria.</p><p> </p><p>Under the benefits-based criteria,
to be eligible to receive FSM, a pupil or their parent must be in receipt of any one
of the qualifying benefits and must make a claim to the school for FSM. The qualifying
criteria includes benefits for both out of work and low-earning families. The full
eligibility criteria is attached and also available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals</a>.</p><p> </p>
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