Education written question – answered at on 20 May 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that children of recipients of universal credit are automatically (a) entitled to and (b) provided with free schools meals.
We estimate that extending free school meal entitlement to all families in receipt of universal credit would result in more than half of children being entitled to free school meals in England, at a cost of up to an extra £1 billion per year. In the current economic climate this is not affordable.
Universal credit will change the benefits by which children are entitled to free school meals (FSM); but it will not change the process, in education legislation, through which families become entitled. Under section 512ZB of the Education Act 1996, a child or his or her parents must first make a request for free school meals to the school or local authority to become eligible for free school meals. The Department for Education aims to ensure that, as universal credit is introduced from 2013, the new FSM entitlement criteria are easily integrated into local FSM administrative and delivery systems.
We are working to encourage all families who meet the criteria to register for free school meals. We want disadvantaged children to benefit from a nutritious meal, and their schools to be able to receive pupil premium funding to help raise disadvantaged pupils' attainment.
Yes3 people think so
No0 people think not
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