William Eichler 21 June 2022

Mayor Khan calls for universal free school meals

Mayor Khan calls for universal free school meals image
Image: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged the Government to extend provision of healthy free school meals to all primary school children to help with the 'perilous economic times'.

According to official Government figures, the proportion of all pupils eligible for free school meals increased over the last 12 months from 20.8% in January 2021 to 22.5% in the same month this year.

Schools currently receive £2.34 per meal for infant children. If the funding allocation had risen with inflation each year, it would have been worth £2.57 in 2021/22.

A number of local authorities in London already provide free healthy school meals for all primary school pupils in their areas.

Mayor Khan is now urging the Government to provide the funding for this to be universal during term-time with free meal vouchers available for those in most need during the school holidays.

‘Free school meals were something my family relied upon – and every child in London deserves that safety net,’ he said.

‘With the summer holidays on the horizon it is essential that the Government act now to reinstate the meal voucher system to give families dignity and nutritional choice over the summer. This should then be followed by the introduction of universal free school meals for all primary school children from the start of the new school year in September.

‘Multiple London councils are already leading the way on this and showing what can be done if we put the health and wellbeing of our young people first in such perilous economic times. It is time for the Government to step up.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Triage Officer

Essex County Council
£26485.00 - £31158.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Senior Triage OfficerPermanent, Full Time£26,485 to £31,158 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Triage Officer

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £26962.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Triage OfficerPermanent, Full Time£25,081 to £26,962 Per AnnumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Practitioner - Clacton Family Centre

Essex County Council
Up to £0.0000 per annum
Senior Practitioner - Clacton Family CentrePermanent, Part TimeLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Social Worker - Children and Families Hub, Colchester

Essex County Council
Up to £0.0000 per annum
Social Worker - Children and Families Hub, ColchesterPermanent, Part Time£37,185 to £50,081 per annum (Full Time Equivalent)Actual Salary (22.2 hours England, Essex, Colchester
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Independent Reviewing Officer

North Yorkshire Council
From £45,718 up to £49,764 per annum pro rata + relocation support
The service is county wide and therefore candidates will be expected to work across other locality areas as needed to meet service demand. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner