Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to collect data on the number of pupils in England who are eligible for free school meals on the ground of household income but are not registered for such meals; and if he will make a statement.

Our latest research on the take-up of free school meals (FSM) was published in December 2013. We are currently considering whether to commission further analysis.

We are also exploring what opportunities exist in the longer term to make FSM registration processes more efficient. We provide an eligibility-checking system to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities. We have also developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM.

To increase registration for FSM, guidance is provided to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that Universal Credit recipients can be made aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including FSM.