The latest published statistics show that over 2 million pupils are claiming free school meals (FSM). This equates to 23.8% of all pupils, up from 22.5% in 2022. Together with almost 1.3 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy, over one third of pupils receive a free meal in school.<\/p>
The Department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to a FSM but do not make a claim.<\/p>
The Department\u2019s primary interest is ensuring that all pupils who are entitled to free meals take this offer up. We also want to make it as simple as possible for schools and Local Authorities to determine eligibility. The Department provides an Eligibility Checking System to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and Local Authorities. The Department has also developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM and provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including FSM.<\/p>
The take-up rate of UIFSM currently stands at 85%. The Department has not formally assessed the proportion of infant pupils who are entitled to, but not registered for FSM. The Department encourages all families who meet the eligibility criteria to apply for FSM.<\/p>
The Department also has not estimated the amount of lunch debt owed by families for school meals. The Government continues to monitor cost-of-living issues that are affecting families.<\/p>
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<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "189591"} , {"_value" : "189592"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-06-19T15:04:53.817Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-06-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "School Meals: Fees and Charges"} , "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 amount of debt owed by families for school meals for the latest period for which data is available; what recent discussions she has held with (a) local authorities and (b) schools on this issue; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"} ], "uin" : "189593"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1003633", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Exiting the European Union "} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1003633/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As the Prime Minister has made clear, we are committed to securing a deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom including Welsh-speaking communities. The UK Government has been working closely and effectively with the Welsh Government, the Secretary of State for Wales and Welsh stakeholders on EU Exit to ensure this.<\/p>
This includes, for example, the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations and the Ministerial Forum on EU Negotiations. The Ministerial Forum recently discussed the UK Government\u2019s proposals for continued cooperation with the EU on culture and education as well as options for continued participation in successor schemes to EU funding programmes, such as Creative Europe, which I understand has played a role in supporting a number of Welsh language projects. We welcomed the Welsh Ministers\u2019 contributions to this discussion.<\/p>
While the Welsh language is a devolved matter, we fully recognise its importance as part of the United Kingdom\u2019s rich culture and will continue working with the Welsh Government, the Secretary of State for Wales and Welsh stakeholders to ensure their concerns on this matter are taken into account as we leave the EU.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Robin Walker"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Worcester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robin Walker"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "189595"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-20T16:18:11.807Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "203"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Exiting the European Union "} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Welsh Language"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Wales, (b) Welsh Government and (c) Welsh Language Commissioner on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on (i) Welsh speakers and (ii) Welsh-speaking communities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1397", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Hywel Williams"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arfon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Hywel Williams"} ], "uin" : "189593"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 2, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }