{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpModified=2015-02-08T00%3A00%3A34.713Z&hansardHeading=Free+School+Meals", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpModified=2015-02-08T00%3A00%3A34.713Z&hansardHeading=Free+School+Meals", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpModified=2015-02-08T00%3A00%3A34.713Z&_metadata=all&hansardHeading=Free+School+Meals", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&min-ddpModified=2015-02-08T00%3A00%3A34.713Z&hansardHeading=Free+School+Meals", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpModified=2015-02-08T00%3A00%3A34.713Z&hansardHeading=Free+School+Meals", "isPartOf" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpModified=2015-02-08T00%3A00%3A34.713Z&hansardHeading=Free+School+Meals", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726276", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726276/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The department has not made a formal assessment of the merits of broadening the free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria. The department is committed to tackling the grave issue of child poverty, which has gone up by 700,000 since 2010, with over four million children now growing up in a low-income family. That is why the government is committed to delivering an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, tackling the root causes, and giving every child the best start at life. To support this, a new ministerial taskforce has been set up to begin work on the Child Poverty Strategy.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>The department is also committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that all children have the freedom to achieve and thrive in education. To support this aim, the government is committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, to set children up for the day and ensure they are ready to learn, while supporting parents and carers to work.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>The department has additionally invested in programmes which provide over three million children with free and nutritious meals. This includes FSM, which 2.1 million disadvantaged pupils are registered to receive, and universal infant free school meals, which will benefit around 1.3 million pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Morgan"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-09T09:20:07.033Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-08-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 July 2024 to Question 627 on Free School Meals, if she will make it her policy to commission an assessment of the potential merits of broadening the eligibility criteria for children to receive free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5350", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Cornwall"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Maguire"}
      ], "uin" : "3647"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722110", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722110/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>This government has not made a formal assessment of the merits of broadening the free school meals (FSM) eligibility criteria.<\/p><p>This adds to the department\u2019s programmes which provide over 3 million children with free and nutritious meals. Such programmes include FSM, which 2.1 million disadvantaged pupils are registered to receive, and universal infant free school meals which benefit around 1.3 million pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2.<\/p><p>Additionally, the government is committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, to set children up for the day and ensure they are ready to learn.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Morgan"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-26T13:47:35.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of broadening the eligibility criteria for children to receive free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
      ], "uin" : "627"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1717755", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1717755/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The department has extended free school meal (FSM) support several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century. As a result, the greatest ever proportion of children are now receiving free lunches. Over one third of children are now eligible for FSM, compared to one in six in 2010.<\/p><p>However, a threshold must be set somewhere. 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 correct decision.<\/p><p>The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-16T15:24:45.44Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will lower the threshold for free school meals qualification.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4869", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadia Whittome"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nottingham East"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nadia Whittome"}
      ], "uin" : "26015"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1716169", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1716169/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The department has extended free school meal (FSM) support several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century. As a result, the greatest ever proportion of children are now receiving free lunches. Over one third of children are now eligible for FSM, compared to one in six in 2010.<\/p><p>However, a threshold must be set somewhere. 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 correct decision.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-05-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-05-13T14:59:16.86Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-05-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to uprate the income threshold for eligibility for free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Stephen Timms"}
      ], "uin" : "24850"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701806", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1701806/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The department publishes statistics annually which detail the number of pupils registered to receive free meals. The latest data shows that over 2 million pupils are registered for benefits-based free school meals (FSM), which is 23.8% of all pupils. Close to 1.3 million additional pupils benefit from universal infant free school meals. Taken together, over one third of pupils receive free school meals.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>The department does not collect data on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to FSM but do not make a claim. Therefore, the department has not made a recent estimate on the number of children not registered for free school meals.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-04-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-04-25T16:46:24.827Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-04-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of children who are (a) eligible and (b) not registered for free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4667", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Amesbury"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Weaver Vale"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mike Amesbury"}
      ], "uin" : "22377"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1695337", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1695337/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>\u200b\u200b\u200bAs previously communicated, the department has looked at auto-enrolment and considers there to be merit in local authorities exploring initiatives to maximise take up and to better understand the barriers that prevent such take up, whilst also ensuring adherence to legal and data protection constraints, which still remain an important consideration. These include constraints around data-sharing, as well as the need for families to make a claim for free school meals to be eligible under the current process.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>The department continues to engage with key stakeholders in this area, noting the methods currently being trialled across a number of local authorities to increase and maximise take up.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-19T16:40:02.357Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question 165185 on Free School Meals, what the complex data, systems, financial and legal implications are of a government-led rollout of automatic enrolment for all eligible children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Washington and Sunderland West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Sharon Hodgson"}
      ], "uin" : "18079"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693943", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693943/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Maximising the take up of free school meals is important in ensuring that as many eligible children as possible benefit from a healthy and nutritious meal. The department aims to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility.<\/p><p>To support this, an Eligibility Checking System has been provided to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.<\/p><p>The department has looked at auto-enrolment and considers there to be merit in local authorities exploring initiatives to maximise take up and to better understand the barriers that prevent such take up, whilst ensuring adherence to legal and data protection constraints, which still remains an important consideration.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-11T12:12:32.843Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question 165185 on Free School Meals, whether any complex data, systems, financial and legal implications are still a barrier to the rollout of auto-enrolment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1521", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Washington and Sunderland West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Sharon Hodgson"}
      ], "uin" : "17089"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693472", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693472/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Maximising the take-up of free school meals (FSM) is important in ensuring that as many eligible children as possible benefit from a healthy and nutritious meal. The department aims to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility.<\/p><p>To support this, an \u2018Eligibility Checking System\u2019 has been provided to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.<\/p><p>The department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to FSM but do not make a claim, and so is not currently in a position to provide data-sets on levels of under-registration for FSM.<\/p><p>The department has looked at the issue of under-registration and considers there to be merit in local authorities exploring initiatives to maximise take up and to better understand the barriers that prevent such take up, whilst ensuring adherence to legal and data protection constraints.<\/p><p>The department is currently aware of a number of different approaches being trialled by local authorities to maximise take up of FSM. The department has not provided formal guidance to support these activities, nor has the department endorsed any particular approach to increasing FSM take-up for benefits-related FSM and universal approaches, but the department continues to engage with key stakeholders on this issue.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "16884"}
        , {"_value" : "16885"}
        , {"_value" : "16886"}
        ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-07T16:53:20.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to support local authorities piloting an opt-out model for free school meal registration.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
      ], "uin" : "16882"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693474", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693474/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Maximising the take-up of free school meals (FSM) is important in ensuring that as many eligible children as possible benefit from a healthy and nutritious meal. The department aims to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility.<\/p><p>To support this, an \u2018Eligibility Checking System\u2019 has been provided to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.<\/p><p>The department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to FSM but do not make a claim, and so is not currently in a position to provide data-sets on levels of under-registration for FSM.<\/p><p>The department has looked at the issue of under-registration and considers there to be merit in local authorities exploring initiatives to maximise take up and to better understand the barriers that prevent such take up, whilst ensuring adherence to legal and data protection constraints.<\/p><p>The department is currently aware of a number of different approaches being trialled by local authorities to maximise take up of FSM. The department has not provided formal guidance to support these activities, nor has the department endorsed any particular approach to increasing FSM take-up for benefits-related FSM and universal approaches, but the department continues to engage with key stakeholders on this issue.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "16882"}
        , {"_value" : "16885"}
        , {"_value" : "16886"}
        ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-07T16:53:21.013Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to assess the suitability of (a) opt-out and (b) opt-in models for free school meals eligibility where they are being provided as a universal benefit to all children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
      ], "uin" : "16884"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693475", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1693475/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Maximising the take-up of free school meals (FSM) is important in ensuring that as many eligible children as possible benefit from a healthy and nutritious meal. The department aims to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility.<\/p><p>To support this, an \u2018Eligibility Checking System\u2019 has been provided to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.<\/p><p>The department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to FSM but do not make a claim, and so is not currently in a position to provide data-sets on levels of under-registration for FSM.<\/p><p>The department has looked at the issue of under-registration and considers there to be merit in local authorities exploring initiatives to maximise take up and to better understand the barriers that prevent such take up, whilst ensuring adherence to legal and data protection constraints.<\/p><p>The department is currently aware of a number of different approaches being trialled by local authorities to maximise take up of FSM. The department has not provided formal guidance to support these activities, nor has the department endorsed any particular approach to increasing FSM take-up for benefits-related FSM and universal approaches, but the department continues to engage with key stakeholders on this issue.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "16882"}
        , {"_value" : "16884"}
        , {"_value" : "16886"}
        ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-03-07T16:53:21.047Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-03-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Free School Meals"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing automatic enrolment for free school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
      ], "uin" : "16885"}
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}