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1599295

registered interest
date	27/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the provision of free (a) breakfasts and (b) lunches in schools.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	153849
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>Since 2010, the number of children receiving a free meal at school has increased by more than two million. This increase in provision is due to the introduction of universal infant free school meals and generous protections put in place as benefit recipients move across to universal credit.</p><p>The Department will continue to keep all free school meal (FSM) eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. Most recently, the Department has:</p><ul><li>Permanently extended eligibility for FSM to children from families with No Recourse to Public Funds.</li><li>Introduced new eligibility criteria in April 2018 in recognition of the transition to Universal Credit. The arrangements in place are forecast to reach more children than would have been the case under the legacy system. There are currently 1.9 million pupils that receive a nutritious FSM through this benefits related criteria.</li><li>Supported around 1.25 million more infants to enjoy a free, healthy, and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of universal infant free school meals in 2014.</li><li>Extended FSM to disadvantaged further education students in September 2014.</li><li>Increased per pupil funding rate for universal infant free school meals to approximately £18 million per year, in recognition of rising costs. More information is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-in-activities-and-food-pledged-to-support-children--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-in-activities-and-food-pledged-to-support-children--2</a>.</li></ul><p>Over a third of pupils in England now receive FSM, compared with one in six in 2010. The Department has made further funding available to the National School Breakfast Programme to extend the programme for another year, backed by up to £30 million. Research has revealed the benefits breakfast clubs have had on children in disadvantaged areas, including with their improved readiness to be taught, increased concentration, and improved wellbeing and behaviour.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 16/03/2023 12:45:22 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1588635

registered interest
date	23/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide free breakfasts for all children in school settings.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	151341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to continuing support for school breakfasts. In November 2022 the National School Breakfast Programme was extended for an additional year, until the end of the 2024 summer term. The Department is providing up to £30 million for this programme. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of pupils from low income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment and wellbeing. Schools are eligible for the programme if they have 40% or more pupils from disadvantaged households, as measured by the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 03/03/2023 13:16:59 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1588636

registered interest
date	23/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the criteria for pupils to receive free school (a) lunches, (b) breakfasts and (c) other meals.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	151342
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2023 answer text <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 pupils are now provided with FSM. 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>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 the consequences of the rising cost of living and is working with other Government Departments to provide support to disadvantaged families.</p><p>The Government is committed to continuing support for school breakfasts. In November 2022 the National School Breakfast Programme was extended for an additional year, until the end of the 2024 summer term. The Department is providing up to £30 million for this programme. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of pupils from low income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment and wellbeing. Schools are eligible for the programme if they have 40% or more pupils from disadvantaged households, as measured by the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 03/03/2023 14:03:43 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1584967

registered interest
date	07/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take further steps to increase (a) the universal infant free school meals grant and (b) the benefits-related free school meals component of the schools national funding formula in the context of the increase in the cost of food.
tabling member constituency	Twickenham
tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
uin	141614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2023 answer text <p>The Department recognises the pressures that schools and suppliers may be facing due to rising costs. The Department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives on a variety of issues, including public sector food supplies.</p><p>This issue should be seen in the wider context of funding for schools. After the National Funding Formula (NFF) rates were set, the Department received additional funding from HM Treasury for core schools funding in 2022/23, in recognition of cost pressures. This funding has been distributed through a schools supplementary grant.</p><p>Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) are funded through a direct grant to schools. In June 2022, the Government announced an increase to the rate of UIFSM funding to £2.41 per meal. Ordinarily, the new funding rates take effect from the start of the academic year. Due to cost pressures and some suppliers being forced to increase prices, these increases have been backdated.</p><p>The 2022 Autumn Statement set out that schools will receive additional funding in both 2023/24 and 2024/25. This brings the core schools budget to a total of £58.8 billion in 2024/25, which is £2 billion greater than published in 2021. This £2 billion is over and above what had been previously committed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 20/02/2023 12:46:38 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1582601

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of the software that would be required to introduce an automatic registration system for income-related free school meals.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Gloucester
uin	HL5253
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>An assessment has not been made of the specific costs of any software for automatic registration because there are also complex data, systems, and legal implications to such a change. The department continues to explore the delivery feasibility of improving existing systems including the development of auto-enrolment functionality.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 14/02/2023 11:48:51 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4540 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Gloucester

1567177

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	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of widening free school meals criteria.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	124006
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 124007 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

1566776

registered interest
date	13/01/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has been made of the difference between the eligibility threshold for free school meals in England compared to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other devolved nations; and if she will take steps to review the threshold that applies for free school meals in England.
tabling member constituency	South Antrim
tabling member printed	Paul Girvan
uin	122492
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2023 answer text <p>Education, including free school meals (FSM), is a devolved matter. The Department is aware that approaches will vary between different administrations. This response outlines the information for England only.</p><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>. The figures 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, over one third of school children are now provided with FSM at a cost of over £1 billion a year. The Department currently has protections in place, ensuring that eligible pupils keep their FSM entitlement even if their household circumstances change.</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 will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them, as well as continuing to monitor current issues that affect disadvantaged families, such as the rising cost of living, and its effect on FSM.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 20/01/2023 13:23:39 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4633 label Biography information for Paul Girvan

1566219

registered interest
date	11/01/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of an increase in the number of pupils who are ineligible for free school meals being unable to afford lunch.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL4688
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2023 answer text <p>The Department is aware of these reports and continues to monitor current issues affecting families, such as the rising cost of living and the effect this is having on school food. In particular, the Department continues to keep free school meals (FSM) eligibility under review to ensure these meals are supporting those who most need them. FSM are currently provided to over one third of school children.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 23/01/2023 17:16:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1565605

registered interest
date	10/01/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the criteria is for (a) registering for and (b) funding free school meals for children in non maintained but state funded schools.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	119984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2023 answer text <p>All pupils attending state funded schools are subject to the standard criteria for free school meals (FSM), which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools-and-local-authorities</a>. Equivalent funding is delivered to maintained schools and academies via the dedicated schools grant and general annual grant respectively.</p><p>Non-maintained special schools have a duty to provide FSM to eligible pupils under the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015. The latest statistics indicate that 39.7% of pupils with an education, health and care plan, and 36.4% of pupils with special educational needs support, were eligible for FSM in 2022. More information is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england/2021-22" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england/2021-22</a>.</p><p>The Government spends over £1 billion annually delivering FSM to pupils in schools. Around 1.9 million disadvantaged pupils are eligible for FSM, as well as an additional 1.25 million infants who receive a free meal under the universal infant FSM policy. Together, this provides support to over one third of all pupils in schools.</p><p>In addition to this, the Department is funding up to £30 million in the national school breakfast programme until the end of the 2024 summer term. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of children from low income families will be offered free, nutritious breakfasts. The Department is also funding over £200 million a year in the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, which provides free holiday club places with healthy meals and enriching activities to children from low income families.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 120080 question first answered 16/01/2023 12:42:41 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1564510

registered interest
date	06/01/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	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 December 2022 to Question 98899 on Free School Meals, what estimate she has made of the proportion of children in each region of England who are entitled to free school meals but have not applied for them.
tabling member constituency	Twickenham
tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
uin	117901
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2023 answer text <p>The Department has previously conducted research into the proportion of children who are entitled to free school meals but do not claim them. The research can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupils-not-claiming-free-school-meals-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupils-not-claiming-free-school-meals-2013</a>. This estimate contains breakdowns by Local Authority.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/01/2023 17:52:59 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson