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1689956

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure primary schools in England are fulfilling their legal requirement to provide free milk for children as part of their free school meals entitlement.
	tabling member constituency	North Tyneside
	tabling member printed	Mary Glindon
	uin	14575
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>Milk is an excellent food for children’s growth and development. This is why, as part of the School Food Standards, schools must ensure it is available to all pupils who want it during school hours.</p><p>Providing milk free of charge to pupils who meet the free school milk criteria is a legislative requirement set out in s512ZB (3) of the Education Act 1996. Schools may offer milk as many times as they wish. Under these regulations, free milk must be provided to those pupils who are also registered for benefits-related free school meals, both when it is offered as part of their school meal and at all other times. This provision ensures that disadvantaged children can benefit from free milk during school hours in addition to a free school meal.</p><p>Compliance with the School Food Regulations 2014 is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies and free schools. These regulations are mandatory in order to ensure that food provided to pupils in school is nutritious and of high-quality and to protect those who are nutritionally vulnerable. The regulations also promote good nutritional health in all pupils, as well as promoting good eating behaviour.</p><p>School Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/02/2024 12:28:38 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4126 label Biography information for Mary Glindon

1642796

	registered interest
	date	07/06/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will change the conditions on which Universal Infant Free School Meal grants are made to ensure that the grants are expended solely on improving the quality of school meals to meet their child obesity targets.
	tabling member printed	Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe
	uin	HL8273
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2023 answer text <p>Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) are funded through a direct grant to schools. To recognise the pressures facing schools, the Department announced an £18 million increase to the per-pupil funding rate for UIFSM to support with costs around food, transport and staff wages.</p><p>UIFSM helps to improve children’s education, boost their health and save parents around £400 a year. There are no plans to change the conditions in which these grants are made. The Department is continuing to review funding in order to ensure that schools continue to be able to provide healthy and nutritious meals in school. The funding for the free school meal (FSM) factor is increasing in line with the latest available GDP deflator forecast when the New Funding Formula (NFF) was published in July 2022.</p><p>Schools receive their provisional allocations for UIFSM in June based on the final allocation of the previous academic year. Schools receive a subsequent allocation of revenue funding in early summer, adjusted either up or down to reflect actual number of meals taken. This is calculated using an average taken from the October and January Censuses.</p><p>Local Authorities can decide whether they should top up the UIFSM allocation from their general maintenance and improvement budgets in the light of local circumstances, as they would do in any other year.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 22/06/2023 16:00:02 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	3335 label Biography information for Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe

1567178

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that all primary school children have access to free school meals.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	124007
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2023 answer text <p>The latest published statistics from the Department are available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics</a>.</p><p>Approximately 1.9 million pupils are claiming free school meals (FSM). This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, over one third of school children are now provided with FSM. The Department currently has protections in place, ensuring that eligible pupils keep their FSM entitlement even if their household circumstances improve.</p><p>The Department believes that the current eligibility threshold level, which enables children in low income households to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one. The Department does not have plans to change the current eligibility conditions for FSM but will continue to keep eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. The Department continues to monitor current issues that affect disadvantaged families, such as the consequences of the rising cost of living.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 124006 question first answered 23/01/2023 17:50:52 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1543832

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to extend the provision of healthy free school meals to all primary school children.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Goudie
	uin	HL3596
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2022 answer text <p>The department will continue to keep eligibility conditions for free school meals (FSM) under review to ensure that FSM are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the department believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of pupils are now provided with FSM.</p><p>Over £200 million a year is being invested in the holiday activities and food programme. This programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their heath, wellbeing and learning through the provision of healthy free meals, nutritional education, and physical activities on a daily basis.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL3597 question first answered 25/11/2022 13:20:12 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	3575 label Biography information for Baroness Goudie

1535876

	registered interest
	date	25/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) funding free school meals for all primary school children and (b) raising the earnings threshold for Free School Meals to £20,000 per year before benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
	tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
	uin	70931
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>The Department continues to monitor the consequences of the rising cost of living and is working with other Government Departments in providing support. The Department will continue to keep free school meal (FSM) eligibility under review, ensuring that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the Department believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of school children are now provided with FSM.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 70930 70932 70933 question first answered 14/11/2022 15:05:06 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1535878

	registered interest
	date	25/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the finding of Impact on Urban Health Cost in its report Investing in Children’s Future: A Cost Benefit Analysis of Free School Meal Provision Expansion that provision of free school meals to all primary school students would generate £41.3bn in direct benefits to schools, families and the NHS and a further £58.2bn in benefit to the wider economy, if he will make it his policy to expand eligibility for free school meals to all primary school students.
	tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
	tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
	uin	70933
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>The Department continues to monitor the consequences of the rising cost of living and is working with other Government Departments in providing support. The Department will continue to keep free school meal (FSM) eligibility under review, ensuring that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the Department believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of school children are now provided with FSM.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 70930 70931 70932 question first answered 14/11/2022 15:05:06 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1523639

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government has made an assessment on the potential benefits of the provision of free school meals to all primary aged children in England.
	tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
	tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
	uin	66071
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The department does not have plans to assess the effects of changing the current eligibility conditions for free school meals (FSM). However, the department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of pupils are now provided with FSM. Extending FSM to all families on Universal Credit would carry a significant financial cost.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 66072 66073 question first answered 24/10/2022 08:25:45 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1523641

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he has made an assessment of the potential cost of providing free school meals to all primary aged children in England.
	tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
	tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
	uin	66072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The department does not have plans to assess the effects of changing the current eligibility conditions for free school meals (FSM). However, the department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of pupils are now provided with FSM. Extending FSM to all families on Universal Credit would carry a significant financial cost.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 66071 66073 question first answered 24/10/2022 08:25:45 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1523644

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government has made an estimate of the potential cost or the provision of free school meals to primary aged children whose families are in receipt of Universal Credit in England.
	tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
	tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
	uin	66073
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The department does not have plans to assess the effects of changing the current eligibility conditions for free school meals (FSM). However, the department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of pupils are now provided with FSM. Extending FSM to all families on Universal Credit would carry a significant financial cost.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst grouped question UIN 66071 66072 question first answered 24/10/2022 08:25:46 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
	tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1464080

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason funding for free school meals for all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 has not increased in line with inflation since that scheme was introduced in 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	4653
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2022 answer text <p>Through the benefits-related criteria, the department provides a free healthy meal to around 1.7 million children, ensuring they are well-nourished and can concentrate, learn and achieve in the classroom. Under this government, eligibility for free school meals (FSM) has been extended several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century, including the introduction of universal infant FSM, and further education FSM.</p><p>In addition, the temporary extension of FSM eligibility to some groups with no recourse to public funds that has been in place since 2020 was extended to all groups and made permanent, subject to income thresholds.</p><p>The department thinks it is right that provision is aimed at supporting the most disadvantaged, those out of work or on the lowest income. We will continue to keep all FSM eligibility under review, to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them.</p><p>The department encourages all schools to promote healthy eating and provide healthy, tasty and nutritious food and drink. Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for all maintained schools including academies and free schools.</p><p>It is for schools and caterers to decide what is an appropriate portion and to balance the food served across the school week. The guidance to accompany the School Food Standards includes guidance on portion sizes and food groups and is available on GOV.UK at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools</a>.</p><p>Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. The department is confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the School Food Standards. In recognition of cost pressures, after the National Funding Formula rates were set, we received additional funding from Her Majesty’s Treasury for core schools funding in the 2022/23 financial year, which we distributed through a schools supplementary grant. As a result of this additional funding, core schools funding for mainstream schools is increasing by 2.5 billion in 2022/23, compared to last year.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. We also spend around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 4649 4650 4651 4652 question first answered 27/05/2022 13:29:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1461384

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made representations to Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of making free school meals available to all primary school children for the purposes of supporting families with the rising cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Wansbeck
	tabling member printed	Ian Lavery
	uin	258
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2022 answer text <p>The provision of free school meals (FSM) to children from out-of-work families or those on low incomes is of the utmost importance to this government. Under the benefits-related criteria, the department provides a free healthy meal to around 1.7 million children, ensuring they are well-nourished and can concentrate, learn and achieve in the classroom.</p><p> </p><p>Under this government, eligibility for FSM has been extended several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century, including the introduction of universal infant FSM, and further education FSM.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, the temporary extension of FSM eligibility to some groups with no recourse to public funds that has been in place since 2020 was extended to all groups and made permanent, subject to income thresholds.</p><p> </p><p>The department thinks 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> </p><p>The government is continuing to provide targeted cost of living support for households most in need. Through the Household Support Fund, the government is providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of household essentials, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing the total funding for this support to £1 billion.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/05/2022 10:58:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4139 label Biography information for Ian Lavery

1461482

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason funding for universal infant free school meals (USIM) of £2.34 per meal is no longer in line with funding for free school meals (FSM) of £2.47 per meal; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the UIFSM funding rate to match that of FSM.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p>The department routinely considers contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 221 222 223 224 question first answered 16/05/2022 12:03:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1461483

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to increase funding for universal infant free school meals in line with free school meals; and whether he plans to increase that funding in line with inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p>The department routinely considers contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 220 222 223 224 question first answered 16/05/2022 12:03:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1461486

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing funding for universal infant free school meals in the context of the cost and supply pressures facing the school food industry.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
	tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
	uin	223
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p>The department routinely considers contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 220 221 222 224 question first answered 16/05/2022 12:03:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1458079

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to increase the allowance of universal infants free school meals to help tackle to effect of rising levels of inflation on the cost of food.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	153817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p> </p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. The department is confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p> </p><p>The department routinely considers contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/04/2022 15:41:41 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1457001

	registered interest
	date	06/04/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken any (1) engagement, or (2) analysis, of the impact of a free school meals programme for all primary school pupils.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Wilcox of Newport
	uin	HL7787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2022 answer text <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> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 22/04/2022 13:36:22 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	4730 label Biography information for Baroness Wilcox of Newport

1434816

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with Ministerial colleagues in the Treasury on the potential merits of increasing the funding rate for universal infant free school meals to the rate allocated for free school meals.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	128416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p> </p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p> </p><p>We routinely consider contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 128417 128418 128419 question first answered 03/03/2022 11:19:28 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1434821

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made representations to Ministerial colleagues in the Treasury on the potential merits of increasing funding for universal infant free school meals in the context of the rising cost of food and labour.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	128418
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p> </p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p> </p><p>We routinely consider contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 128416 128417 128419 question first answered 03/03/2022 11:19:28 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1434823

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to increase funding for Universal Infant Free School Meals in line with inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	128419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2022 answer text <p>The department spends around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.3 million infants enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meal policy in 2014. The per meal rate of £2.34 per child was increased in the 2020/21 financial year. The funding rate for the 2022/23 financial year will be published with the funding allocations in June.</p><p> </p><p>The department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies. Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty. We are confident that schools will continue providing pupils with nutritious school meals as required by the school food standards.</p><p> </p><p>We routinely consider contingency arrangements and expect schools and catering companies supplying them to do the same.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 128416 128417 128418 question first answered 03/03/2022 11:19:29 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1361286

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing funding for universal free school meals for infants in the next Spending Review.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	58769
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 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. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58770 58774 58775 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1361287

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the impact of not increasing the cost of universal infants free school meals on the (a) quality of the meals provided and (b) ability for the industry to retain and recruit staff.
	tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
	tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
	uin	58770
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2021 answer text <p>We spend around £600 million per year ensuring 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. All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools are entitled to receive a free meal. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children in receipt of benefits related free school meals.</p><p>The funding of UIFSM is allocated via a grant to schools, funded at a rate of £2.34 per meal. This grant was last increased for the 2020/21 academic year and covers the cost of raw materials as well as other fixed costs associated with providing the meals. It is for individual schools to decide how to allocate their budgets in order to provide these meals.</p><p>The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is currently experiencing a significant demand for its services as organisations start to recruit staff following lockdown, for example during September and October it saw an increase of over 20% in demand for standard and enhanced checks. However, the DBS continues to deliver its services in line with its Published Service Standards which are available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fdbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions&amp;data=04%7C01%7CHOParliamentaryQuestions%40homeoffice.gov.uk%7Ce1df4c92d0814e2bb49208d993aba6e9%7Cf24d93ecb2914192a08af182245945c2%7C0%7C0%7C637703187703426729%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=UiwGKr%2BqaxSILbwMQHO1%2FVxQCpeRyMTK%2By132TKbgXo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dbs-dataset-1-disclosure-progress-information-disclosed-and-update-service-subscriptions</a>. Despite increased demand largely driven by COVID-19 responses and the gig economy, particularly online shopping and food delivery, the DBS has consistently exceeded its operational targets.</p><p>The department holds regular meetings with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other school food stakeholders, including the Local Authority Caterers Association, the representative body for school caterers, as well as food industry representatives covering a variety of issues.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 58769 58774 58775 question first answered 27/10/2021 16:44:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

1230147

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether free schools meals are being offered to all pupils in the first three years of primary school in England.
	tabling member constituency	Chipping Barnet
	tabling member printed	Theresa Villiers
	uin	83689
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2020 answer text <p>We allocate £600 million per year to ensure that 1.4 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) policy in 2014. Now that schools are reopen to all children, those in reception, year 1 and year 2 in England’s state-funded schools will receive a free meal. During the period in which schools were largely closed, the government continued to provide support to those eligible for benefits related free school meals (FSM) through the National Voucher Scheme.</p><p>Now that schools and their kitchens are open again, we expect them to provide free school meals to all those entitled to benefits related FSM and UIFSM to those children attending school. If a child needs to miss school for COVID-19 related matters, such as self-isolation due to a case of COVID-19, then we have asked schools to provide meals to those entitled to benefits related FSM.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 09/09/2020 16:14:53 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	1500 label Biography information for Theresa Villiers

1217941

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to fund universal infant free school meals from September 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
	tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
	uin	64985
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>Universal infant free school meals will continue in the 2020-21 academic year, providing a free nutritious lunch to pupils in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2. Details of school allocations will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 30/06/2020 16:32:07 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1182911

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provision of universal free school meals for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL2234
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2020 answer text <p>​A key success measure for Universal Infant Free School Meals is take-up of the meal, which has been consistently strong. We monitor this through the schools census. 1.4 million infants receive a free meal through this programme which is a take-up rate of 87%.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 16/03/2020 12:48:01 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1172100

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to introduce free school meals for all primary schoolchildren.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	5515
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2020 answer text <p>This government is committed to ensuring that children are well nourished and develop healthy eating habits that stay with them for the rest of their lives. Healthy eating not only supports children’s health but also has an important contribution to make in ensuring children are able to concentrate and learn in schools, and therefore achieve their potential in life.</p><p>Under the benefits-based criteria, around 1.3 million of the most disadvantaged children are eligible for and claiming free school meals. Benefits-related free meals were extended to disadvantaged further education students in September 2014. A further 1.4 million infants receive a free nutritious meal under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme.</p><p>We do not currently have plans to extend free school meals to all primary pupils. We believe in prioritising the policy so it is focused on children that are most in need. We will review the eligibility criteria for free school meals at the end of the roll-out of Universal Credit. We have increased access to free meals through the introduction of Universal Infant Free School Meals and Further Education Free Meals. Our amended free school meal criteria, introduced in April 2018 mean we expect more pupils to benefit from benefits-related free school meals in 2022, compared to the legacy system.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 23/01/2020 17:45:13 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi