Nearly 14,000 people have signed a petition to persuade the Prime Minister to extend free school meals to all primary school pupils in England.
As the cost of living crisis deepens, Rishi Sunak has been told by campaigners that the Autumn Statement was a "shameful missed opportunity" to ensure no child goes hungry. According to a report in the Mirror online, around 800,000 youngsters living in poverty in England are missing out on a free meal because of strict eligibility rules.
According to the Child Poverty Action Group, under the current system all children in England can get free school meals up to the end of Year 2 but after that they only qualify if their household claims certain benefits. Pupils in Universal Credit families are only eligible if their parents earn less than £7,400 a year from work.
