Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will lower the threshold for free school meals qualification.

The department has extended free school meal (FSM) support several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century. As a result, the greatest ever proportion of children are now receiving free lunches. Over one third of children are now eligible for FSM, compared to one in six in 2010.

However, a threshold must be set somewhere. The department believes that the current eligibility threshold level, which enables children in low-income households to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the correct decision.

The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them.