Giving his Autumn Statement today, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said £1.23bn would be set aside to fund the initiative over the next two years, which includes £150m specifically allocated to upgrade school kitchen facilities.
The policy, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in September, will give the 200,000 five- to seven-year-olds attending primary and infant schools in England a hot meal from Monday to Friday.
Osborne told the House of Commons: “We have found the financial resources to fund the expansion of free school meals to all school children in reception, year 1 and year 2.”
Other measures announced in the Chancellor's speech included:
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