Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on the numbers of children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals.

The department does not have plans to assess the potential impact of changes in the cost of living on pupils who are not eligible for free school meals (FSM). However, we continue to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue.

The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level is correct, as it enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools.