Free meals for all primary school children? Feat. Jemma Forte & Robert Halfon | Jeremy Vine

Wales has become the first UK nation to offer free meals to all children up to and including year 6, regardless of circumstance. That's an extra 176,000 kids who are now eligible.
The Welsh government said the 260 million pound policy would help children concentrate, and eliminate stigma faced by struggling families amid the cost of living crisis.
But the Welsh Conservatives claimed there had been reports of low quality meals and small portion sizes. due to local councils struggling with squeezed budgets.
Just over two million children are eligible for free school meals in England. In England, after year two, only children and families who qualify for certain benefits are eligible for free school meals. They're available up to and including year two, and to older children and families who qualify for certain benefits.
That alone costs the government up to £1 billion each academic year.
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[@pugwash84]

One of the problems is that schools order in lunches from other companies which are quite pricey. If they had kitchens, cooks and ingredients it would cut down costs. Children should all be entitled to a school meal whichever background.

[@leecoping8114]

While many of the parents can find money to buy cigarettes

[@PastaSauce.]

Not the kids fault

[@pugwash84]

You missed the point, the poorer children will still get a meal regardless but parents who earn more will be able to get a free meal for their child at school.

[@keirmitchell5560]

More expectations on those who do the correct things again. Stop having kids if you cannot afford them.

[@macsmiffy2197]

No one seems to have considered how they are going to get all these children fed in the time frame. My grandchildren take half a filled roll with fruit, because there isn’t enough time to eat a whole roll before they are being turfed out ready for the next lot to come in.

[@chriswilliams8121]

I am proud of our welsh government trying to eliminate childhood hunger in school

[@wherearethebonnets_7190]

Can’t afford to “sort your hair out if you have lice”?!

[@carolynesimpson6070]

. Then you see loads of Children eating bags of crisp and vaping!!! On their way to school.

[@PastaSauce.]

Jeremy shocked that no millionaires in wales? Oh trust me there is plenty of them!! Look at the huge houses around the north wales coast.

[@chriswilliams8121]

Exactly i live in Anglesey theres plenty of huge houses around here

[@macsmiffy2197]

He’s obsessed with millionaires.

[@jeanetteeftekhar6762]

No. If parents have money, then they should pay.Children from poorer backgrounds have always had free school meals.