GOVERNMENT POLICY ON EXTENDED FREE SCHOOL MEAL ELIGIBILITY

That this House shares the concern of several education unions, the Child Poverty Action Group, health groups and prominent academics about the Government's decision not to proceed with the extension of free school meal eligibility to an estimated half a million primary school children from low income working families, which would cost parents returning to work over £300 per child; notes that the recent Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post-2010 highlighted the disadvantages faced by those from the lowest socio-economic groups and the importance of giving every child the best start in life; believes that ensuring that all primary school children living in poverty receive a healthy school meal would make a considerable contribution to reducing both education and health inequalities, given that almost one-third of children are overweight or obese by the time they reach the end of primary school; further believes that healthier school meals have been shown to improve classroom behaviour, helping to improve academic performance and attainment; and urges the Government to review this decision as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review process.