§ Stephen HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his(a) current and (b) future policy on free school meals. [102858]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggSection 512 of the Education Act 1996 (amended by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999), sets out our current policy on free school meals. Children whose parents receive Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance and support provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are currently eligible to receive free school meals.
From 6 April 2003, section 201 of the Education Act 2002 and its associated regulations will extend free school meals to children whose parents receive the Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to receive the Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by The Inland Revenue) that does not exceed £13,230. This change will protect an estimated 87,000 children in England who would otherwise lose their entitlement because of planned changes to the tax credit and welfare system from April 2003. We estimate that an additional 75,000 children will become entitled to free school meals as a result of this change.