In response to the announcement that free school meals will be expanded to all families on Universal Credit, Anna Feuchtwang, CEO of the National Children's Bureau, said:
“Giving every child on Universal Credit access to free schools meals is a clear sign the government is recognising the scale of child poverty and the action needed to address it. This major investment will enable more children to receive a nutritious meal, while also lifting tens of thousands of families out of poverty.
"This positive development must still be put in the context of recent cuts to disability benefits and the ongoing impact of the two-child limit. It is crucial that the government reconsiders its position on these through its forthcoming child poverty strategy and that today's announcement is a down payment on further investment in the autumn. The strategy must also be backed by legally binding targets to ensure that this and future governments remain committed to improving living standards for the poorest in society.”