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Written question asked by Adam Dance (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 April 2026. It was answered by Olivia Bailey (Labour) on Thursday, 23 April 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Free School Meals

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ensuring free school meals provide (a) sustainable, (b) nutritious and (c) locally sourced food.

Answer

The action we are taking to extend free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will ensure that over 500,000 additional children will receive a free and nutritious lunchtime meal, pulling 100,000 children out of poverty.

We are consulting on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school, including at breakfast and lunch, better reflects current nutritional guidance and support children’s health, wellbeing and learning. Details of this consultation are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-food-standards-updating-the-legislative-framework We will consider guidance for the new standards in due course.

The government remains committed to our ambition that half of all food served in public settings is either locally sourced or certified to higher environmental standards and we are open to considering all lawful means of achieving this. We are working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as they develop the Good Food Cycle vision.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
127383
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Free school meals Nutrition
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk