Free School Meals 2025-06-05

While welcoming the expansion of free school meal eligibility, Neil O'Brien criticises the government for cutting support in other areas such as maths and science funding, nursery provisions, university teaching grants, and higher apprenticeships. He highlights that these cuts disproportionately affect low-income households who are also paying more due to Labour's national insurance increase.

Welcomes the expansion of free school meals entitlement but questions if every eligible child will receive it without going through a complicated application process. Asks for confirmation that London will also benefit from this expanded funding.

Welcomes the announcement and credits Liberal Democrats for long championing free school meals. Questions if auto-enrolment will be implemented to ensure all eligible children receive their entitled meals and urges the Government to consider capping branded uniform costs.

Welcomes the expansion as it will lift 100,000 children out of poverty and help narrow the education gap that widened under the Tories. Questions if more measures are planned to tackle child poverty.

Asks about the impact on eligibility for free school meals when parents move from universal credit to employment and whether this will create a 'cliff edge' situation for some families. Requests further clarity on how breakfast clubs will be rolled out.

Welcomes the announcement but questions if the Government plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap soon as it affects 470,000 children.

Welcomes the policy but asks for clarification on what 'fully funded' means in terms of school budgets and whether this funding will come from existing or new resources.

Welcomed the Government's announcement, noting that nearly 8,500 children in her constituency will benefit from free school meals. She highlighted the cost-saving benefits for families of up to £500 per child per year.

Questioned the geographical reach of the announcement, suggesting that removing the two-child benefit cap would reduce poverty in every part of the country. Criticised the Government for not making announcements on the child poverty strategy.

Championed free school meals, noting their benefits to children's health and educational attainment. She welcomed the provision extending to 5,460 more children in her constituency.

Welcomed the announcement but raised concerns about transitional protections taking 1.2 million children out of eligibility and the loss of pupil premiums, which would leave schools £1.5 billion short.

Welcomed the announcement for more than 3,000 children in his constituency who will benefit from free school meals, noting its importance for health, educational attainment and future prospects of young people.

Asked about funding for food during holidays. Highlighted the need to end holiday hunger with the provision of food vouchers in her local authority.

Welcomed the announcement, noting that 6,000 children in his constituency will benefit. Asked whether this is only a first step towards universal free school meals for all UK children.

Welcomed the announcement but called for scrapping the two-child benefit cap to lift 400,000 more children out of poverty. Emphasised that universal free school meals would have a £1.71 return on every pound invested.

Welcomed the breakfast club funded by the Government in her constituency, highlighting that one in two children live in poverty. Asked for reassurances on working with DWP to remove the two-child limit.

Minister of State for Education welcoming the expansion of free school meals and explaining its benefits, including increased access to nutritious food and better educational outcomes.

Welcomes the announcement, noting that over 6,000 children in Dudley will now be eligible for free school meals. Asks if these meals will meet nutritional standards to combat childhood obesity.

Welcomes the policy but criticises the delay until September 2026 and questions whether the funding will be sufficient for nutritious meals.

Celebrates the additional children who will now qualify for free school meals in Banbury, asking how this policy will improve educational outcomes and behaviour.

Welcomes the adoption of a Liberal Democrat policy but questions whether breaking the link between free school meals and the pupil premium poses risks to funding for disadvantaged pupils.

Celebrates the announcement in conjunction with local council initiatives, emphasising its impact on reducing child poverty and improving nutrition.

Welcomes the fully-funded policy but seeks assurances that funding will not come at the expense of existing school budgets.

Welcomes the statement, criticises previous Conservative governments for increasing child poverty levels, and calls for a review of the two-child benefit cap.

Welcomes the announcement, asks if the Barnett consequentials will ensure that Northern Ireland benefits from the funding increase.

Welcomes the announcement but calls for a radical approach in the child poverty strategy to adequately resource efforts against child poverty.

Celebrates the benefit for up to 11,450 children in her constituency, asking if free school meals will be universally accessible to eligible families.

Fully supports the extension of free school meals eligibility, emphasising it as a significant step towards tackling child poverty and delivering positive changes for families in need. The Minister pays tribute to constituent efforts in raising concerns that led to this policy change.

Welcomes the Government's decision, citing its importance for supporting families and improving children’s access to nutritious meals across Blackpool. He calls on the Minister to unite efforts in ensuring every child has a healthy start in life.

Supports extending free school meals eligibility, noting it will benefit 5,730 children in his constituency. Criticises the Conservative party for past opposition to such support.

Welcomes the announcement but emphasises the need for local councils to ensure all eligible children receive free school meals, highlighting a 47% increase in eligibility in Stafford.

Supports extending free school meals eligibility, citing it as an important step towards lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and ensuring access to nutritious food for all backgrounds.

Highlights that up to 3,130 children in South Norfolk will benefit from the measure. Requests help with two primary schools currently in portacabins.

Welcomes the policy change for a mother who lost eligibility after returning to work, emphasising Labour's commitment to low-paid working families.

Stresses that 1 in 3 children live in poverty and welcomes measures such as free breakfast clubs and cost reduction for school uniforms to improve educational outcomes and family finances.

Welcomes the measure benefiting over 5,000 children but suggests a return visit to Colchester's pioneering primary school and community kitchen.

Emphasises fighting poverty in Labour’s DNA, criticising the Conservative party for neglecting child poverty issues. Asks for assurances on further meaningful change through the autumn's strategy.

Supports extending free school meals eligibility and calls for improved data sharing with local authorities to maximise benefit reach.

Welcomes the measure benefiting thousands in his constituency, highlighting previous support from his grandmother who was a dinner lady. Praises Labour's childcare measures and caps on branded school items.

Fully supports the extension of free school meals eligibility, emphasising its importance in easing financial pressures for families with up to 5,600 children benefiting. Calls for wider strategy against child poverty.

Warmly welcomes the statement and pays tribute to the Minister's focus on reducing child poverty in his constituency where nearly half of children live below the poverty line.

Welcomed the announcement of free school meals, highlighting that almost 4,000 children in her constituency will benefit and parents will save £500 annually. Emphasised local examples like the 'bean man' collecting food for food banks.

Responded to support the announcement, stating that the government is committed to an ambitious child poverty strategy and mentioned ongoing investments in mental health support teams and recruitment of 8,500 mental health professionals.

Criticised the Conservative Party for children coming to school hungry due to food insecurity. Noted that people with mental health conditions are twice as likely to live in food-insecure households, and welcomed the announcement's impact on young people’s mental health.

Welcomed the expansion of free school meals but questioned what else the government is doing to tackle poverty. Asked about the Government's plans for tackling the cost of living crisis and its impact on children.