Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the earned income threshold of £7,400 for universal credit claimants under the Free School Lunches and Milk, and School and Early Years Finance (Amendments Relating to Universal Credit) (England) Regulations 2018 on the number of children who will be eligible for free school meals in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
This government has extended eligibility for free school meals (FSM) several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century, most notably through the introduction of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) FSM in 2014. The result of this is that over a third of pupils in England now receive free meals, compared with one in six in 2010.
The department monitors data on the number of pupils who are eligible for FSM, including estimates for future years, but no formal assessment has been made on the number of children eligible for FSM in 2024 and 2025. The department publishes statistics annually which show that over 2 million pupils are currently eligible for FSM. This is an increase from 1.1 million eligible pupils in 2018, when extensive transitional protections were first introduced.
Protections ensure that children in receipt of FSM will not lose access to this entitlement until at least March 2025, even if their household’s financial circumstances improve. The department does not plan to formally assess the number of children who would no longer be eligible for FSM, in the absence of the protections policy.
The department has always been clear that a child is only eligible for FSM if their family meets the eligibility criteria at the point of applying for FSM. The result may be that in some cases for children in the same household, some may be eligible for FSM whilst others are not. The department does not plan to make an estimate of this figure.
Further information is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics#dataBlock-2f5a67c4-6e66-414a-a926-f959d8b6443a-tables.
Mentions:
1: Jonathan Edwards (Ind - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) child include visiting the Woods family at their farm on weekends, watching my father and Mr Woods milk - Speech Link
2: Jonathan Edwards (Ind - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) , the Welsh Government partnership parties have acted with blatant disregard on changes proposed to school - Speech Link
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS figures showing a recent increase in hospital admissions for cases of (a) malnutrition and (b) nutritional deficiencies, published in The Guardian on 21 December 2023, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to (i) affordable and (ii) nutritious food.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom
Malnutrition is a complex condition, and it is unclear from hospital admissions data what the underlying causes are. Through our Healthy Food Schemes, the Government provides a nutritional safety net to those who need it the most. Healthy Start, Nursery Milk and the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme together help more than three million children.
Written Evidence Jan. 30 2024
Inquiry: Financial EducationFound: As a former senior school leader and now experienced academic, I am passionate that every young
May. 31 2023
Source Page: School milk subsidy schemeFound: School milk subsidy scheme
May. 31 2023
Source Page: School milk subsidy schemeFound: School milk subsidy scheme
May. 31 2023
Source Page: School milk subsidy schemeFound: School milk subsidy scheme
Mentions:
1: Minto, Jenni (SNP - Argyll and Bute) Breastfeeding—the provision of human milk—is the most accessible and cost-effective activity available - Speech Link
2: Minto, Jenni (SNP - Argyll and Bute) I am grateful to those who continue to provide donor breast milk to support that work. - Speech Link
3: White, Tess (Con - North East Scotland) There can be a poor latch, not enough milk, too much milk, thrush, blocked milk ducts, tongue-tie, mastitis - Speech Link
4: Mackay, Rona (SNP - Strathkelvin and Bearsden) experienced food insecurity in January 2023, which is higher than the rate for households with only school-age - Speech Link
5: Gulhane, Sandesh (Con - Glasgow) Others have hypoplasia of the breast, so they do not produce sufficient milk. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) dedication that ensured that we all found out about this issue.Benedict, Helen’s son, was allergic to milk - Speech Link
2: Alicia Kearns (Con - Rutland and Melton) Member said, when he was aged just two, Benedict’s nursery worker gave him cow’s milk, which caused him - Speech Link
3: Jon Cruddas (Lab - Dagenham and Rainham) Examples include peanuts, milk, shellfish, cats, medicines and grass pollens. - Speech Link
Written Evidence May. 22 2024
Inquiry: Food, Diet and ObesityFound: Obesity prevalence in early childhood, trends, drivers and impacts1 One in five children arrive at school