Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 May (HL7185), whether they will now answer the question put; namely what estimate they have made of the number of children who will lose their entitlement to free school meals following the ending of phase one of the transitional protection for those migrating to Universal Credit.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

​​Transitional protections have been in place since 2018 to ensure no one who gained free school meal (FSM) eligibility would lose it while Universal Credit was rolled out. We are clear that no pupil with transitional protections will lose their entitlement to FSM before the new entitlement is introduced, which will mean that children that need it most, from families receiving Universal Credit, will continue to receive a free meal. Following our expansion of eligibility from September 2026, it is our intention to end all protections.

We estimate that over half a million more children will benefit from a free meal, taking into account the impact of ending transitional protections. Full details of this estimate is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/estimate-of-additional-children-claiming-free-school-meals-following-expansion-of-eligibility/2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following their proposal in the Immigration White Paper published on 12 May to extend the standard qualifying period for settlement from five to 10 years, what consideration they have given to increasing awareness of children’s rights to British citizenship and the capacity of parents and carers to exercise these rights.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We will be consulting on both the earned settlement and citizenship schemes later this year and further details on the proposed schemes will be provided at that time.

This will include ensuring children who have been in the UK for some time and discover they do not have status, are fully supported to regularise their status.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 5 June (HLWS681), what plans they have, if any, to increase the household maximum income thresholds for free school meal eligibility for children with no recourse to public funds conditions.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

​​This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals (FSM) to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.

​Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

​The department has permanently extended FSM eligibility to children in all households with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to maximum income thresholds.

​In addition, families with NRPF may also be eligible to access the Healthy Start scheme, details of which are available here: https://www.gov.uk/healthy-start.

​As with all programmes, we will continue to keep eligibility for FSM, including for families with NRPF, under review.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 5 June (HLWS681), whether the Holiday Food and Activities Programme will be made available to the expanded group of children who will be eligible for means-tested free school meals from September 2026.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

I refer my noble Friend to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57800.

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