Khan calls for universal free meals for primary schools

Sadiq Khan urges more support for families during the cost of living crisis

- ZOE TIDMAN

Sadiq Khan has called for all pupils in primary school to get free school meals as the UK grapples with the cost of living crisis and soaring inflation.

The mayor of London said every child in the capital "deserves that safety net" of the scheme and called for all students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 to receive it - regardless of family income - from the start of the new academic year.

All infant school pupils currently get free school meals, but only those from the most disadvantaged families qualify in older years.

The government has so far resisted calls to expand free school meals during the cost of living crisis.

Former education secretaries and unions have said they want to see all families on universal credit qualify, instead of only those with earnings under £7,400 a year, and for the scheme to run over summer.

The mayor has joined the call for free school meal vouchers to run during the summer holidays as families worry about feeding their children over the break and "train" themselves to eat less without any extra help.