England is expanding free school meals – here’s what could happen if they were given to all children

Children in Jharkhand state, India, eating their midday meal at school. Mohammad Shahnawaz/Shutterstock

The UK government has announced an extension of free school meals in England to all children whose parents receive universal credit, in order to address child hunger and poverty.

The government claims that half a million more pupils will now have access to school lunches for free. The total number of children registered for free school meals in England is currently about 2.2 million, or about 26% of the total school population.