PRESS RELEASE : Free school meals continue but costly expansion plans shelved

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 9 June 2010.

Regarding stories concerning free school meals, a Department for Education spokesperson said:

As the Education Secretary made clear in his letter to Ed Balls dated 7 June 2010, we are not stopping free school meals. All pupils who are already eligible will continue to receive them. We are, however, ending the expansion of eligibility this year. This decision was made because the cost of extending eligibility was significantly higher than anticipated by the previous government. Money saved this year will be invested in projects to boost the attainment of children from disadvantaged families.