Question follow-through · 34062
Free School Meals
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of eligible children who claim their entitlement to a free school meal; and if she will take steps to (a) reduce the complexity of application form
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Department for Education
- Tabled
- 26 Feb 2025
- Target answer date
- 3 Mar 2025
- Answer
- 7 Mar 2025 · 9 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Education and skills
- Adoption · 3 Mar 2025
- Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · 3 Mar 2025
- Allied Health Professions · 3 Mar 2025
- Special Educational Needs: Devon · 5 Mar 2025
- Special Educational Needs: Devon · 5 Mar 2025
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Recorded timeline
26 Feb 2025
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of eligible children who claim their entitlement to a free school meal; and if she will take steps to (a) reduce the complexity of application form
3 Mar 2025
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
7 Mar 2025
Answer published
There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and strongly encourages schools and local authorities to support eligible families take this entitlemen...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Adoption
3 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide additional support for adopted children impacted by (a) abuse, (b) neglect and (c) violence before adoption.
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
3 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the adoption and special guardianship support fund on families.
Allied Health Professions
3 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of specialist therapeutic providers.
Special Educational Needs: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the number of special school places available in Devon.
Special Educational Needs: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to make additional increases in (a) funding and (b) placements for special schools in Devon .
Classroom Assistants: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to increase (a) salaries for and (b) retention of teaching assistants in Devon.
Special Educational Needs: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional SEND (a) funding and (b) assistance has been made available for Devon since 5 July 2024.
Special Educational Needs: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide wage support to the lowest paid teaching (a) staff and (b) assistants in SEND schools in Devon.
Special Educational Needs: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of SEND places in schools in Devon.
Special Educational Needs: Devon
5 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the waiting times for (a) SEND assessments, (b) EHCP packages, (c) places at SEND schools and (d) total SEND provision in Devon.
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund
11 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund permanent.
Pupils: Assessments
14 Mar 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of mandatory SATs on pupil wellbeing and teacher workload; and whether her Department has considered adopting moderated teacher assessments as an