Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of rising inflation on the ability of schools to offer nutritious free school meals.

The department recognises the cost pressures that some schools and suppliers may be facing, and we are holding regular meetings with other government departments and with food industry representatives, covering a variety of issues including public sector food supplies.

Cost pressures should be seen in the wider context of funding for schools. The department received additional funding from HM Treasury for core schools funding in the 2022/23 financial year, which we distributed through a schools supplementary grant. This includes a £2.5 billion increase in mainstream school funding for 5 to 16-year-olds in the 2022/23 financial year, compared to 2021/22.

The department also spends around £600 million on Universal Infant Free School Meals each year. The per meal rate has been increased from £2.34 to £2.41, and backdated to 1 April 2022, in recognition of increased costs.

The standards for school food are set out in the Requirements or School Food Regulations 2014 and are to ensure that schools provide children with healthy food and drink options, and to make sure that children get the energy and nutrition they need across the school day. Schools have flexibility under the standards to make changes if ingredients or meals are not readily available, so long as nutritional standards are maintained.