Sadiq Khan says all UK primary schoolchildren should get free school meals after unveiling plan to use £130million from business coffers to make sure 270,000 young Londoners eat properly every day
- Mayor will fund meals for one year from September using business rates cash
- Estimated 800,000 English children living in poverty don’t qualify for free meals
Sadiq Khan today unveiled a taxpayer-funded £130million plan to give all London primary schoolchildren free meals – and suggested the scheme should be copied nationwide.
The capital’s mayor will fund meals for one year from September for up to 270,000 students, funded by business rates paid by firms, in a move he said would save families up to £440 per child.
According to the Food Foundation, an estimated 800,000 children in England are living in poverty but do not qualify for free school meals.
Speaking to the BBC this morning Mr Khan sad: ‘I am hoping that the lessons from London will show the case unarguably that universal free school meals in primary schools should be a must.’
Mr Khan called free school meals a ‘lifeline’, adding that he had personally benefitted from them as a child.
It comes as as he is embroiled in controversy over a planned expansion of his Ulez tax on cars to cover all of London from the end of August. He is also expected to increase his share of council tax levied on households by almost 10 per cent this year.
The capital’s mayor will fund meals for one year from September for up to 270,000 students, funded by business rates paid by firms, in a move he said would save families up to £440 per child.
Tory former minister Simon Clarke hit out at the cost and the universality of the scheme. ‘Using millions that could be spent on targeted support to vulnerable children to subsidise free school meals for middle class parents who can afford them perfectly well is the opposite of progressive politics. Classic Labour,’ he said.
Tory former minister Simon Clarke hit out at the cost and the universality of the scheme.
‘Using millions that could be spent on targeted support to vulnerable children to subsidise free school meals for middle class parents who can afford them perfectly well is the opposite of progressive politics. Classic Labour,’ he said.
Currently, households in England receiving Universal Credit must earn below £7,400 a year before benefits and after tax to qualify for free school meals.
Mr Khan said he was ‘stepping forward’ after years of Government inaction.
‘The cost of living crisis means families and children across our city are in desperate need of additional support,’ he said.
‘I have repeatedly urged the Government to provide free school meals to help already stretched families, but they have simply failed to act.
‘This is why I’m stepping forward with an emergency £130m scheme that will ensure every single primary pupil in the capital receives free school meals. This will save families hundreds of pounds over the year, ensuring parents aren’t worrying about how they’re going to feed their children.
‘It will also guarantee every primary school student a healthy, nutritious meal – meaning they don’t go hungry in the classroom and can better concentrate on their studies.’
He added: ‘My siblings and I depended on them to eat while at school and my parents relied on them to give our family a little extra breathing room financially.
‘The difference they can make to children who are at risk of going hungry – and to families who are struggling to make ends meet – is truly game-changing.
‘Supporting London’s families through this cost-of-living crisis and helping ensure our children are properly fed is vital as we continue striving to build a better London for everyone – a city that is fairer, safer and more prosperous for all.’
Anna Taylor, chief executive of the Food Foundation, called on the Government to follow Mr Khan’s lead.
She said: ‘We applaud London’s Mayor for taking timely action to support families fighting the cost of living by ensuring every primary school pupil gets a nutritious lunch, no matter their background.
‘This is a monumental step forward for safeguarding children’s diets, well-being and learning across the capital.
‘However, outside of London, hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty still don’t qualify for a Free School Meal. Central Government must now honour its levelling up commitment by investing in Free School Meal expansion for every community in the upcoming budget.
‘We know this policy has resounding support in every corner of the UK.’
Mr Khan’s intervention comes after TV chef Jamie Oliver in December called on the Government to extend free school meals to every household with parents on Universal Credit, warning ‘chaos ensues’ from parents worrying about feeding their children.
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