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Written Question
Free School Meals: Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Thursday 11th December 2025

Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the document entitled School level underlying data 2025, published on 5 June 2025, what assessment she has conducted on the reasons why 625 pupils in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency who are eligible for free school meals are not accessing them.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

​This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty which is why we are introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals ensuring all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible 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 of as part of the Child Poverty Strategy published on 5 December. Under the expansion, over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for free school meals.

The department has not made a formal assessment of the situation in Ely, however, specific factors such as lack of knowledge, stigma, and language barriers may impact take-up of free school meals.

The department wants to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their free school meals. Introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals so that all children from households in receipt of universal credit will be eligible for free school meals from September 2026 will make it easier for parents to know whether they are entitled to receive free meals.

To support take-up, we are also rolling out improvements to the checking system that is available to all local authorities to help verify eligibility for free meals.

We welcome local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal and data protection requirements.

Division Vote (Commons)
9 Dec 2025 - UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 65 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 100 Noes - 100
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 64 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 395 Noes - 98
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 63 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 327 Noes - 162
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 63 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 326 Noes - 162
Speech in Westminster Hall - Thu 04 Dec 2025
Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes) on securing this debate and thank him for his hard work as chair of the APPG.

I want to pay tribute to Brainkind Fen …..."
Charlotte Cane - View Speech

View all Charlotte Cane (LD - Ely and East Cambridgeshire) contributions to the debate on: Acquired Brain Injury Action Plan
Scheduled Event - 3 Dec 2025, 7 p.m. - Add to calendar
View Source
Commons - Adjournment - Main Chamber
Potential merits of Government support for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme
MP: Charlotte Cane
Division Vote (Commons)
3 Dec 2025 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 60 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 154 Noes - 303
Division Vote (Commons)
3 Dec 2025 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 59 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 87 Noes - 299
Division Vote (Commons)
3 Dec 2025 - Pension Schemes Bill - View Vote Context
Charlotte Cane (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 61 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 143 Noes - 304