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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