Free School Meals/Pupil Premium: Eligibility

Part of the debate – in Westminster Hall at 4:56 pm on 6 February 2018.

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Photo of Sharon Hodgson Sharon Hodgson Shadow Minister (Public Health) 4:56, 6 February 2018

Absolutely—the hon. Lady will not be surprised to learn that I totally agree with what she just said. However, I do not see it as an either/or situation, as I want both those things; I want children to be getting their breakfasts and then getting their lunches. When there were the pilots for universal free school meals, lots of schools could manage to provide both, because even when there was an offer of universal free breakfasts, not all of the children had them; only about 18% to 20% of the children took up that offer. It is very affordable to provide such breakfasts and usually it is the children who really need them who take them, whether they are from busy working families or from poor families. It is a very good policy.