AQW 13276/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 12/06/2024
Answered On Date: 18/06/2024
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any impact assessment carried out prior to the raising of the free-school meals threshold from £14,000 a year to £15,000 a year; and (ii) the number of families eligible for free school meals in each of the last five years.
Answer:
On 7 June I announced an interim rise in the income threshold for those applying for free school meals and uniform on the basis of being in receipt of Universal Credit. This interim rise has been implemented pending the completion of the review of the free school meals and uniform grant eligibility criteria and seeks to ensure that broadly the same number of children and young people are able to access these supports in the 24/25 academic year. All relevant impact assessments will be undertaken as part of the completion of the overall review. The Department does not hold data on the number of families that are entitled to free school meals. Listed below are the number of pupils entitled to free school meals in the last five years taken from the school census: Academic Year | Number of pupils entitled to free school meals | 19/20 | 96,697 | 20/21 | 97,592 | 21/22 | 98,804 | 22/23 | 96,231 | 23/24 | 94,975 |
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