Lib Dems call for automatic free school meal enrolment

Children eligible for free school meals should be automatically enrolled, the Liberal Democrats have argued.

Your child could get free school meals if you get benefits including:

income support
income-based jobseeker’s allowance
income-related employment and support allowance
support under part VI of the immigration and asylum act 1999
the guaranteed element of pension credit
child tax credit (provided you’re not also entitled to working tax credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
working tax credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
universal credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018, your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)

Under the current system, parents have to apply for free school meals through their local authority.

But the Lib Dems believe the process should be automatic.

Too many children ‘missing out’

Education spokesperson Munira Wilson stated that this is already being done in Durham by the local council, which has led to an extra 2,500 children getting a meal at lunchtime.

However, Ms Wilson believes that in other parts of the country, “too many children from the some of the poorest eligible families are missing out”.

“Will ministers finally commit to automatically enrolling all eligible children in England?” she asked.

“The children’s wellbeing and schools bill is the perfect opportunity to do so.”

In response, education minister Stephen Morgan said the government’s approach to free school meals is being kept under review.

“We are aware of local measures on auto-enrolment being trialled and are supportive of the overall aims of such schemes,” he commented.

Universal free school meals ‘cut child obesity by 10%’

Independent MP Ian Byrne added that Knowsley, a town in his Liverpool West Derby constituency, has the highest proportion of obese and overweight children in England.

As a result, he believes it would be the ideal test-bed for the rollout of universal free school meals.

“We know from research into universal free school meals in London that such a policy can reduce obesity rates by up to 10%,” he said.

Mr Morgan refused to commit to the idea, but did offer to meet with Mr Byrne to discuss it further.

“Over 13,000 pupils in Knowsley are supported with a healthy and nutritious free meal at lunch time through the department’s free school meals and universal infant free school meals programmes,” the minister continued.

“The department recognises the valuable role that free school meals play and encourages all parents eligible for the entitlement offer.

Mr Morgan added that that the government is determined to “break down barriers to opportunity and reduce child poverty”.

“Around £1.5 billion is spent annually on free lunches for over 3 million pupils,” he said.

“This includes all children from reception through to year 2, and we have committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in state-funded primary schools.”