Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the expansion of eligibility for Free School Meals, what assessment they have made of the implications for the development and living standards of children in that category who remain ineligible for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

We are funding the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme with more than £600 million over the three financial years from 2026/27. This means that local authorities can continue to provide free holiday sessions, including nutritious food, to more than 500,000 children a year.

From September, free school meal (FSM) eligibility expanded to all households in receipt of Universal Credit, creating two categories of FSM: targeted and expanded. HAF is intended to support children and families facing the greatest disadvantage, meaning eligibility is primarily linked to those households in the targeted FSM category. However, local authorities are also able to use a proportion of their HAF funding to support any other children who may benefit, including those in the wider expanded FSM group.

The expansion of free school meals, which took effect from the start of the school year, means that half a million more children will be able to receive free and nutritious lunchtime meals each day. This will benefit their health and attainment and save their families hundreds of pounds a year.

The department continues to work with local authorities on HAF participation. The government has also committed to a full evaluation of FSM expansion.