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<p>The provision of free school meals (FSM) to children who are eligible for them
is of the utmost importance to this government. The department recognises the cost
pressures that some schools and suppliers may be facing, and as usual are holding
regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives,
covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies.</p><p>Schools
fund benefit-related FSM from their core funding which they receive through the schools
block of the dedicated schools grant and is derived from the national funding formula
(NFF). For the 2022/23 financial year, the funding schools attract through the ‘FSM
factor’ in the NFF is increasing to £470 per eligible pupil.</p><p>In recognition
of cost pressures, after the NFF rates were set, the department received additional
funding from HM 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 the 2022/23 financial year, compared to last year. We have also given schools the
autonomy to agree individual contracts with school food suppliers and caterers, using
their increased core funding.</p><p>On Tuesday 14 June my right hon. Friend, the Secretary
of State for Education, announced an increase to the per pupil meal rate for Universal
Infant Free School Meals from £2.34 to £2.41. This will be backdated to April 2022.</p><p>
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