Every primary school pupil in London is to receive free school meals for one year, under new emergency plans. 

It comes as the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan unveiled the emergency scheme to extend free school meals in an effort to help struggling households amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Khan shared that the programme will cost a one-off £130 million, with funding helped by additional business rates income. 

It is estimated the move will help around 270,000 primary school pupils and save families in London around £440 per child across the year.

Across England, households receiving Universal Credit must earn below £7,400 a year before benefits and after-tax to qualify for free school meals.

London primary school pupils to receive free school meals 

Organisation Food Foundation shared that an estimated 800,000 children in England live in poverty but do not qualify.

Mr Khan said he was “stepping forward” after years of Government inaction.

“The cost of living crisis means families and children across our city are in desperate need of additional support,” he said.

“I have repeatedly urged the Government to provide free school meals to help already stretched families, but they have simply failed to act.

“This is why I’m stepping forward with an emergency £130m scheme that will ensure every single primary pupil in the capital receives free school meals. This will save families hundreds of pounds over the year, ensuring parents aren’t worrying about how they’re going to feed their children.

“It will also guarantee every primary school student a healthy, nutritious meal – meaning they don’t go hungry in the classroom and can better concentrate on their studies.”

The Mayor also shared that free school meals were a "lifeline" as he shared he had personally benefitted from them as a child.

He said: “My siblings and I depended on them to eat while at school and my parents relied on them to give our family a little extra breathing room financially.

“The difference they can make to children who are at risk of going hungry – and to families who are struggling to make ends meet – is truly game-changing."

Mr Khan’s intervention comes after TV chef Jamie Oliver in December called on the Government to extend free school meals to every household with parents on Universal Credit, warning “chaos ensues” from parents worrying about feeding their children.