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The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP

MP for North Shropshire

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Coronavirus: Free School Meals

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Thank you for contacting me about the provision of free school meals (FSM) during the coronavirus outbreak.

I welcome the action being taken to help schools keep providing FSM for eligible families during this difficult period.  Schools are being encouraged, where possible, to continue providing meals or food parcels for eligible pupils through their existing food providers.  Recognising that this is not always an option, on 31st March a national scheme was launched for schools to provide supermarket vouchers to eligible pupils, with costs covered by the Department for Education (DfE).  This gives school leaders the flexibility to determine the best way to support families in their communities.

The vouchers are worth £15 a week per child, which is higher than the amount schools usually receive for FSM.  Schools can place orders for vouchers online for parents and carers, who will be able to use them in a variety of supermarkets.  The list of participating supermarkets currently includes Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose, Aldi and McColl’s and I know Ministers are working to expand this list.  Where families are unable to access any of these supermarkets, schools are able to buy vouchers for other retailers and the DfE will refund the cost.

The eligibility criteria for FSM is temporarily being extended.  This includes some groups who have no recourse to public funds.  Further details can be found here:

 - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/guidance-for-the-temporary-extension-of-free-school-meals-eligibility-to-nrpf-groups

This system was developed at pace to support families across England, and  I am assured that the Department for Education is working closely with the supplier to ensure orders are processed quickly, develop the system capacity and resolve technical problems.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

 

Campaign Responses

  • Trade Deals 19/1/21
  • CAMRA Save Our Pubs Campaign
  • Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffee and Anoosheh Ashoori
  • Coronavirus: Closed Churches
  • Planning Reform
  • British Heart Foundation and Medical Research Charities
  • Free School Meals 27/10/2020
  • Immigration Bill: Family Reunion
  • Women and Equal Pay
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  • Coronavirus: Maternity Care
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  • EU Negotiations
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  • Asylum Seekers Support and Employment
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  • Extension of Covid-19 Support Schemes
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  • Yemen
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  • Coronavirus: Performing Arts
  • Black Curriculum
  • Coronavirus: Clinically Vulnerable Returning to Work
  • British Food Production Standards
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  • Stop Christophobia campaign 21/05/19
  • The Abuse of Children and Civilians by Hamas
  • Live Exports
  • Cost of Medicines
  • Plastic pollution in UK rivers
  • Eating disorders
  • Forced abortion
  • Cancer Treatment - Coronavirus

Owen Paterson MP MP for North Shropshire

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