Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils have received universal school meals for infants in each Hertfordshire constituency (a) this year (b) in total since the policy was introduced.

The department holds the data for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) taken in Hertfordshire since the policy was introduced, but not at constituency level. This data is published in the ‘Schools, pupils and characteristics’ publication. The most recent version was published in June 2025 and the next is scheduled for summer 2026.

Information on the number of infant pupils taking a meal in Hertfordshire (and England) for UIFSM between 2015/16 and 2024/25 can be found at https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25#section-free-school-meals-eligibility and https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/31364812-04d8-4846-70c8-08deb7cf662b.