Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take further steps to increase (a) the universal infant free school meals grant and (b) the benefits-related free school meals component of the schools national funding formula in the context of the increase in the cost of food.

The Department recognises the pressures that schools and suppliers may be facing due to rising costs. The Department holds regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives on a variety of issues, including public sector food supplies.

This issue should be seen in the wider context of funding for schools. After the National Funding Formula (NFF) rates were set, the Department received additional funding from HM Treasury for core schools funding in 2022/23, in recognition of cost pressures. This funding has been distributed through a schools supplementary grant.

Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) are funded through a direct grant to schools. In June 2022, the Government announced an increase to the rate of UIFSM funding to £2.41 per meal. Ordinarily, the new funding rates take effect from the start of the academic year. Due to cost pressures and some suppliers being forced to increase prices, these increases have been backdated.

The 2022 Autumn Statement set out that schools will receive additional funding in both 2023/24 and 2024/25. This brings the core schools budget to a total of £58.8 billion in 2024/25, which is £2 billion greater than published in 2021. This £2 billion is over and above what had been previously committed.