FREE SCHOOL MEALS

That this House is alarmed about Government proposals to change the eligibility criteria for free school meals from all families who claim universal credit, to introduce an earnings threshold to only those families claiming universal credit who earn under £7,400 through work; notes that because of the way that universal credit is calculated, parents with one child will need to earn an extra £1,100 a year to cover the cost of school meals; further notes that this would be incredibly difficult for many families; is concerned at the Children's Society research that estimates that these proposals will result in 1.1 million fewer children receiving free school meals; believes that it is unacceptable for any child to be going hungry at school; and calls on the Government to reconsider these proposals and continue to provide free school meals for all universal credit claimants and ensure that no child goes hungry at school through no fault of their own.