The Liberal Democrats have criticised the Government for failing to increase the income threshold for free school meals in line with inflation.
Families in the UK who receive universal credit can apply for free school meals, but a household income threshold of £7,400 a year (after tax) was introduced in 2018.
The Lib Dems said increasing this threshold to £9,300 in line with inflation would make 135,000 more children living in poverty eligible for a hot lunch.
It based this on a call by the Institute for Fiscal Studies for the Government to increase the income cap to £20,000 to bring around 900,000 children into eligibility.
The Lib Dems’ analysis assumes that families’ incomes are evenly distributed between £7,400 and £20,000.
Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: ‘Extending free school meals to these children would save parents money, encourage healthy eating and give children the energy to learn in the afternoon. It’s a no brainer.
‘Our children’s health and education should be a top priority, but time and again under this Government they are treated as a complete afterthought.’
