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Labour makes £900m free school meals pledge for all primary children

2 mins read Education
All primary school children in England will receive free school meals if Labour wins the next general election, the party's leader has announced.

Jeremy Corbyn said his party would introduce a VAT charge on private school fees to pay for the policy, which it hopes will raise £1.5bn a year.

Currently all children in reception class and years 1 and 2 receive free school meals in England, as well as those whose parents receive certain benefits.

Research released by the party suggests extending funding for free school meals to all primary school children would cost between £700m and £900m.

Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said cuts to school budgets introduced by the current government were impacting schools' ability to feed children, which was affecting pupils' health and attainment. 

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