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<p>We are working very closely with other departments, including the Cabinet Office
and the Department for Work and Pensions, to simplify free school meals criteria under
universal credit, while ensuring that free lunches continue to be available to the
families who need them most. These discussions, which include consideration of a phased
implementation timetable, are in recognition of the significant number and complexity
of passported benefits across Government, most of which have different eligibility
criteria.</p><p>We will allow good time to enable schools, local authorities and children's
charities to comment on our proposals before we introduce new entitlement criteria
for free school meals under universal credit.</p><p> </p>
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