The council's new Liberal Democrat leaders pledged last week to abandonthe policy of universal free schools, which was introduced by Labourcouncillors in 2004. They claimed it was subsidising the rich andleaving less money for ingredients (Children Now, 14-20 June).
Now it has emerged that not only is the policy costing the council3.8m a year, but it has also cost the city's schools more than1.6m in lost grant revenue. The shortfall has arisen because anumber of schools have seen a sharp drop in the number of parentsregistering their children for free school meals because all pupilsreceive free meals anyway.
"The pilot is having a negative impact on people's willingness toregister their entitlement for free meals," said council leader CarlMinns. "Because they are free, people do not feel the need to comeforward to register, and therefore that number has droppedsignificantly. As a result, the council has lost 900,000 thisyear and 750,000 last year. It is hitting schools, and someschools in the poorest areas of Hull have been hit the hardest."
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