Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 23 July (HL Deb, cols 668–70), what plans they have to review access to free school meals for children who are affected by having no recourse to public funds.

As per the response provided by my noble Friend, Baroness Williams of Trafford, during the debate on 23 July, decisions around recourse to public funds are made by the Home Office.

Free school meals are available to disadvantaged families in receipt of certain qualifying benefits, including children of immigrants and refugees who are receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act (1999).

The Home Office is able to exercise discretion to grant recourse to public funds where the family would otherwise be destitute. Where this entitles the family to receive certain benefits, they may also be able to claim free school meals.