25,000 in poverty but not allowed free school meals (From The Northern Echo)

25,000 in poverty but not allowed free school meals

7:54am Friday 1st August 2008 in

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MORE than 25,000 youngsters across the North-East are not entitled to a free school meal even though they are classed as living in poverty.

The children do not qualify because their parents are not receiving benefits, forcing them to fork out at least £300 a year for hot meals at lunchtimes.

Of those missing out, 10,187 are at primary school and 15,028 at secondary level. A further 69,262 pupils living in poverty are disqualified across Yorkshire.

The revelation, in a report by the Government-backed School Food Trust, will add to pressure on ministers to make free school meals more widely available.

Two of the region’s MPs – Dr Roberta Blackman- Woods (Durham City) and Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead East and Washington West) – have led calls for every pupil to eat for free.

Studies have found pupils who eat school meals are more likely to behave and concentrate.

And a trial of free meals for all in Hull increased take-up to 64 per cent.

The idea, also designed to stop youngsters turning to junk food outside the school gates, is known to be under consideration, but fears have been raised about the estimated £1bn cost.

However, according to the School Food Trust, it would cost only £102m to change the eligibility criteria to include all children living in poverty.

Across England, 410,000 youngsters are missing out.

Their parents earn more than £10,000 (the threshold for a free school meal), but less than £12,000 (the official poverty measure).

Ms Hodgson said, in a recent Commons debate: “The solution that I propose is straightforward and simple – free, universal, locally sourced, hot school lunches, given to all pupils under the age of 16.”

Lib Dem schools spokesman David Laws said: “For the most disadvantaged children, a school dinner can be their only hot meal. Some of our poorest children are missing out, which is outrageous.”

Pupils are entitled to free school meals if their parents receive Income Support, income- based Jobseeker’s Allowance, certain immigration and asylum support or the guaranteed part of the state pension credit.

Parents who receive child tax credit, but are not entitled to working tax credit and earn less than £14,155 a year, are also entitled.

The study also revealed that of the 68,000 North-East youngsters who are eligible for a free school meal, about 14,000 fail to claim it.