Plans to axe free lunches for infant school children from better off families in England have been axed.
The Universal free school meals were introduced in 2014. Schools minister Nick Gibb said the government would “retain the existing provision”, having listened “very carefully” to the views of parents.
The Tory manifesto proposed restricting free lunches to infants from poorer homes – with free breakfasts for all primary school pupils funded instead.But there was no mention of the measure in last month’s Queen’s Speech.
And Mr Gibb told MPs: “We have listened very carefully to the views of the sector on the proposal to remove infant free school meals and we have decided that it is right to retain the existing provision.”
The Tories have abandoned a host of proposals since failing to win a majority, including plans to means-test winter fuel payments, end the triple lock guarantee on pension increases and to hold a vote on foxhunting.
