Free School Meals (Automatic Registration of Eligible Children) Bill 2024-26
make provision about the automatic registration of all children eligible for free school meals; to provide for an opt-out where the family wishes; and for connected purposes.
Private Members' Bill (Ballot Bill)
The Free School Meals (Automatic Registration of Eligible Children) Bill is a Ballot Bill tabled by Peter Lamb.
Is this Bill currently before Parliament?Yes. This Bill was introduced on 16 October 2024 and is currently before Parliament.
Whose idea is this Bill?As a Private Members' Bill, this Bill represents the individual initiative of an MP (Peter Lamb), not the Government.
What type of Bill is this?20 Ballot Bills places are awarded by lottery to backbench MP's at the start of each Session. These Bills receive precedence for debate in the Commons and a handful will succeed in becoming enacted into law.
The higher chance of success means MPs who win a ballot slot are frequently lobbied by groups wishing to have legislation tabled on their behalf, but the choice of bill ultimately remains with the MP.
So is this going to become a law?Historically, between 3 and 13 of the 20 Ballot Bills have succeeded in becoming enacted into law. Therefore, provided this bill is sufficiently high in the Ballot and the Government has no means to object to the bill, it has the greatest chance of PMBs to be enacted into law.
Would you like to know more?See these Glossary articles for more information: Ballot Bill, Private Members Bill, Process of a Bill
Next Event: Friday 14th March 2025 - 2nd reading
Order Paper number: 2
(Likely to be Debated)
Last Event: Wednesday 16th October 2024 - 1st reading (Commons)
Bill Progession through Parliament