Free School Meals (Automatic Registration of Eligible Children) Bill

Key Points

• Automatic registration of all children eligible for free school meals to receive free meals at school.
• Opt-out option for families who prefer not to participate.
• Requires changes to how schools and local authorities collect and share data to identify eligible children.
• Applies to the administration of the free school meals programme and related processes, with connected provisions as needed.
• Sponsored by Peter Lamb (Labour (Co-op)) and has reached the Commons’ second reading (13 March 2025).

Progress

The Bill has had its first reading and is at the second reading in the Commons as of March 2025; if it progresses, it would move to committee stage and further scrutiny.