School Meals: Standards
Lords · Question HL14460 · Tabled 9 Feb 2026 · Department for Education · Official record
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Question
Asked by Baroness Walmsley
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks of expanding free school meals in September before updated school food standards are implemented and enforced.
Answer
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern, 18 Feb 2026
We are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. This means over half a million more disadvantaged children will be receiving the support they need in school to be healthy and get the m...