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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent

Parents in England to pay more for school lunches as caterers blame rising costs

Pupils sit on a long bench while eating from trays at school
Letters sent to parents acknowledged the additional put on strain on families by raising prices but said price changes were unavoidable. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Parents across England are facing higher prices for school lunches as the new school year begins, with caterers blaming the government’s national insurance increase alongside rising food and energy costs.

Lunch providers say increases in staffing costs, including employer national insurance contributions announced by the chancellor last year, have added “significant extra pressure” to their budgets.

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