Queen's Speech: Plans to scrap free school meals and create new grammars dropped

Currently, all children in the first three years of school receive a free lunch, but as part of its general election pledges, the conservatives said they would scrap the entitlement, and use some of the money raised by the move to fund an extra £4bn of education spending by 2022.

The Conservative manifesto also said that a ban on the establishment of new grammar schools would be lifted.

However, neither pledge appeared in the Queen's Speech delivered in parliament today.

Documents released alongside the speech state that government will "look at all the options" for ensuring all children go to good or outstanding schools.

"We will look at all options and work with parliament to bring forward proposals that can command a majority," the document states.

James Dobson, researcher at the Bright Blue think tank, said: "The government is right not to include new grammar schools in its legislative agenda for this parliament.

"The evidence is conclusive that grammar schools do not drive social mobility since poorer children do worse in educationally selective areas than their peers in non-selective areas."

Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children's Society, said he was "relieved" to see that scrapping of universal infant free school meals did not feature in the speech.

"By protecting free school meals for infants, two million children are still guaranteed a decent meal every school day," he said.

"However, much more needs to be done to address child poverty, including ending the four-year freeze currently in place on benefits for children and families."

Of the 24 bills that were contained in the speech, eight relate to Brexit.

The speech does confirm plans for domestic violence legislation in the form of a Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, will see the establishment of a domestic violence and abuse commissioner to stand up for victims and survivors, raise public awareness, monitor the response of statutory agencies and local authorities and hold the justice system to account in tackling domestic abuse.

It will also ensure that if abusive behaviour involves a child, then the court can hand down a sentence that "reflects the devastating life-long impact that abuse can have on the child", a pledge that featured in the Conservative manifesto.

Meanwhile, the government will reform mental health legislation to ensure the area is prioritised in the NHS in England.

"The government will publish a green paper on children and young people's mental health focused on helping our youngest and most vulnerable members of society receive the best start in life," the background documents state.

"This will make sure best practice is being used consistently and will help to accelerate improvements across all services so that children and young people get the right mix of prevention and specialist support."

Matthew Reed said the growing mental health needs of children have been neglected for far too long by government.

"We are pleased to see that tackling mental health has been made a priority," he said.

"The government must act swiftly and put more resources into mental health services for children and young people.

"We're calling for access to counselling in all schools and for action to reduce waiting times for NHS mental health services. No child should have to endure months of suffering before they get help."

The Queen's Speech also set out plans for a commission for countering extremism to be established.