Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to (a) publish and (b) implement the eligibility criteria for free schools meals under universal credit; and if she will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne to the answer I gave on 24 October 2017, to question 108272

(http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=108272)

My department is working to establish new criteria for determining entitlement to benefits-related FSM as the roll-out of Universal Credit progresses. No decision has been taken yet, and our proposals on this matter will be announced in due course.