Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to review the free school meals eligibility criteria to include all children living below the poverty line.

We think it is important that free school meal support is targeted at those that need it most. Free school meals are an integral part of our provision for families on low incomes and our wider actions to promote social mobility.

We will consider the full recommendations set out in the National Food Strategy. The government has committed to respond formally to the National Food Strategy following publication of Part 2 of the report.

Universal Credit is an in-work benefit which reduces as household earnings increase. It is right that free school meals remain targeted at those who are out of work and on the lowest incomes.

In 2018, Government introduced new eligibility criteria for families on Universal Credit, following a consultation in 2017. It is estimated that this will be more generous in its reach by 2022, in comparison to the legacy benefit system. Further to this we included generous protections, which mean any family transitioning to Universal Credit will continue to have access to a free school meal even if they move above the earnings threshold.