CHILDREN IN POVERTY AND FREE SCHOOL MEALS

That this House is shocked by the statistic that around 700,000 school-age children living in poverty are not receiving free school meals; congratulates the Children's Society for revealing this shameful state of affairs; notes that many working parents below the poverty line are discriminated against by being denied this crucial health benefit for their children because they are employed; further notes that a single parent working for 16 hours a week and a couple working 24 hours, both on working tax credit, cannot qualify, however poor they may be; and calls on the Government to ensure that all school-age children living in poverty receive free school meals whether or not their parents have jobs.