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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

882366

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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, whether he plans to assess his Department's level of funding for universal infant free school meals in light of the rising cost of food.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	135304
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2018 answer text <p>The £2.30 per meal that we provide to schools to fund universal infant free school meals is based on the School Food Trust’s survey estimate of the average cost of a primary school meal, and on discussion with stakeholders and school food experts. This is a realistic and fair basis for funding free school meals.</p><p>Decisions about school funding beyond 2020 will be taken at the next spending review.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 135305 question first answered 24/04/2018 08:32:23 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

882368

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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, whether the Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of its policy on Universal Infant Free School Meals.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	135306
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Education and the Department for Health carried out a robust pilot of universal free school meals between 2009 and 2011. The evaluation of this pilot found that take-up of school meals was significantly higher in the pilot areas compared with control areas, and there was a significant positive impact on attainment for primary school pupils, with pupils in the pilot areas making between four and eight weeks’ more progress than similar pupils in comparison areas.</p><p>Take-up of the meals is a key success measure for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), and we monitor this on a termly basis through the schools census. We know that a balanced and nutritious meal, which includes vegetables and fruit, is good for the health and well-being of children. According to the latest figures, 1.5 million infant pupils (excluding those eligible for benefits-based free school meals) took a lunch on census day – a take-up rate of 85.9%.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 135307 135310 135311 question first answered 24/04/2018 08:36:08 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

882369

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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, whether he will undertake an assessment of the effect on children of the universal infant free school meal policy.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	135307
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Education and the Department for Health carried out a robust pilot of universal free school meals between 2009 and 2011. The evaluation of this pilot found that take-up of school meals was significantly higher in the pilot areas compared with control areas, and there was a significant positive impact on attainment for primary school pupils, with pupils in the pilot areas making between four and eight weeks’ more progress than similar pupils in comparison areas.</p><p>Take-up of the meals is a key success measure for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), and we monitor this on a termly basis through the schools census. We know that a balanced and nutritious meal, which includes vegetables and fruit, is good for the health and well-being of children. According to the latest figures, 1.5 million infant pupils (excluding those eligible for benefits-based free school meals) took a lunch on census day – a take-up rate of 85.9%.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 135306 135310 135311 question first answered 24/04/2018 08:36:08 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

882370

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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, how many pupils have been in receipt of universal infant free school meals since its introduction.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	135308
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2018 answer text <p>This information is in the public domain and for every year since 2015 the number of infant pupils who took a free school meal on census day is published (in Table 3d) in the below National tables:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015</a>.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2016" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2016</a>.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2017</a>.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 23/04/2018 16:40:45 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

882372

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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 assessment he has made of the effect of universal infant free school meals on children's health and nutrition.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	135310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Education and the Department for Health carried out a robust pilot of universal free school meals between 2009 and 2011. The evaluation of this pilot found that take-up of school meals was significantly higher in the pilot areas compared with control areas, and there was a significant positive impact on attainment for primary school pupils, with pupils in the pilot areas making between four and eight weeks’ more progress than similar pupils in comparison areas.</p><p>Take-up of the meals is a key success measure for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), and we monitor this on a termly basis through the schools census. We know that a balanced and nutritious meal, which includes vegetables and fruit, is good for the health and well-being of children. According to the latest figures, 1.5 million infant pupils (excluding those eligible for benefits-based free school meals) took a lunch on census day – a take-up rate of 85.9%.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 135306 135307 135311 question first answered 24/04/2018 08:36:08 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

882373

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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 assessment he has made of the effect of universal infant free school meals on children's attainment levels.
	tabling member constituency	Wythenshawe and Sale East
	tabling member printed	Mike Kane
	uin	135311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Education and the Department for Health carried out a robust pilot of universal free school meals between 2009 and 2011. The evaluation of this pilot found that take-up of school meals was significantly higher in the pilot areas compared with control areas, and there was a significant positive impact on attainment for primary school pupils, with pupils in the pilot areas making between four and eight weeks’ more progress than similar pupils in comparison areas.</p><p>Take-up of the meals is a key success measure for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), and we monitor this on a termly basis through the schools census. We know that a balanced and nutritious meal, which includes vegetables and fruit, is good for the health and well-being of children. According to the latest figures, 1.5 million infant pupils (excluding those eligible for benefits-based free school meals) took a lunch on census day – a take-up rate of 85.9%.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 135306 135307 135310 question first answered 24/04/2018 08:36:08 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4316 label Biography information for Mike Kane

106426

	registered interest
	date	04/11/2014
	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 she has made of the potential costs and benefits of the introduction of universal infant free school meals in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	213397
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is responsible for the introduction of the requirement that state-funded schools in England should offer universal infant free school meals, which came into effect on 1 September 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2009 and 2011 the Department for Education and the Department of Health piloted the provision of universal free school meals in Durham and Newham. The independent evaluation of those pilots showed that there were a number of benefits arising from the provision of universal free school meals, including improved attainment, healthier eating habits and increases in the uptake of meals among children who would have been eligible for free school meals under the existing criteria. We also know, from research carried out by the School Food Trust (now Children’s Food Trust), that universal infant free school meals will save families who previously paid for school lunches up to £400 a year per infant child.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has used School Food Trust research into the costs of school meal provision, as well as feedback from local authorities and stakeholders, to inform the allocation of funding for this policy and the targeting of implementation support. In particular, this research informed the decision to allocate £2.30 of revenue funding per meal taken by newly eligible pupils.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Yeovil answering member printed Mr David Laws question first answered 10/11/2014 17:27:32 answering member 1473 label Biography information for Mr David Laws
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

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