Free School Meals

Kirsty Blackman Excerpts

Thursday 5th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

My hon. Friend is a real champion for children and young people in her constituency. She is absolutely right to set out the differences in the cost of living that this policy will make for parents; as she suggests, it will also have real benefits in behaviour, attendance and attainment, as I set out in my statement.

[Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North) (SNP)]

The Minister has today made a big thing about every family in every corner of our country, and he has talked about how widespread this change will be. A small number of additional people in England will be able to get additional free school meals. I am glad that the Government have extended eligibility, but it does not have the geographical reach that he is trying to make out. Were he to remove the two-child benefit cap, that would have an effect in every part of these islands, reducing poverty in every constituency. Why is this issue being kicked into the long grass? He is making an announcement on free school meals, but the Government are refusing to make announcements on the child poverty strategy that was promised in the spring.

[Stephen Morgan]

Wasn’t that a nice try, Madam Deputy Speaker? Let us be clear: we are taking urgent action in the light of the scar of poverty on our society. We have the spending review next week, and the child poverty strategy will conclude in due course.

[Kirsty Blackman]

When?

[Stephen Morgan]

If the hon. Lady had listened carefully to my statement, she would know that I said we will be announcing further details on the strategy later this year.