Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of children who are not receiving their free milk entitlement; and if she will take steps to monitor compliance with school food standards.

Under the School Food Standards, schools must ensure milk is available to all pupils who want it during school hours, which includes any time during a school session or a break between sessions. Section 512ZB (3) of the Education Act 1996 sets out the requirement that milk must be provided free of charge to pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM). The department does not hold data on the number of children who are not receiving their free milk entitlement through FSM.

Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for maintained schools, academies and free schools.  Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. The department is keeping our approach to school food compliance under review.