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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

837626

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2018
	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 estimate he has made of the proportion of children in reception classes that are receiving free school meals.
	tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
	tabling member printed	Tracy Brabin
	uin	126745
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2018 answer text <p>Although all children in infant classes can receive a free meal under universal infant free school meals, the school census still records which children would have been eligible for a free school meal (FSM) under the criteria used for later school years. Of the 663,796 reception pupils in the January 2017 census, 92,733 are recorded as having been eligible for an FSM under these rules. This accounts for 14% of reception pupils.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 08/02/2018 17:33:01 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4588 label Biography information for Tracy Brabin

839306

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2018
	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, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2018 to Question 125487, whether local authorities have discretion to not provide a free school meal to a child in (a) reception (b) year 1 and (c) year 2 because of their age.
	tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
	tabling member printed	Tracy Brabin
	uin	127860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2018 answer text <p>Since 2014, state funded schools in England have been required by law to provide free lunches to all children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2, under the universal infant fee school meals policy. The criteria are not age related. The legislation is clear that local authorities must provide a free meal to a child in reception, Year 1 and Year 2, where a meal has been requested.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 20/02/2018 16:42:15 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4588 label Biography information for Tracy Brabin

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

421680

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2015
	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 her Department plans to change its policy on free school meal provision for infant school pupils.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	12066
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2015 answer text <p>The continuation of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) was a commitment in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto. The government is currently conducting a Spending Review across all its programmes.</p><br /> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Mr Sam Gyimah question first answered 20/10/2015 15:50:52 answering member 3980 label Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

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

1138407

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	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 he is taking to ensure that the provision of free school meals to all infant school aged children does not adversely affect (a) the allocation of and (b) level of registration for pupil premium funding.
	tabling member constituency	Ipswich
	tabling member printed	Sandy Martin
	uin	276288
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2019 answer text <p>We are determined to give every child, regardless of their background, the very best start in life. Free school meals are key to this and we want all parents whose children are entitled to them to apply for them. The continuing provision of free school meals to children from out of work families or those on low incomes is of the utmost importance to this government. We want to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their free school meals, and to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility.</p><p>To support this, we provide an Eligibility Checking System to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities. We have developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for free school meals. We also provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including free school meals.</p><p>We understand there are some concerns that schools could be missing out on valuable pupil premium funding due to under registration for free school meals. However, school census data shows that the introduction of Universal Infant Free School Meals has not adversely affected infant registration rates.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 16/07/2019 16:28:30 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4678 label Biography information for Sandy Martin

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