Expanding the free school meals scheme could inject up to £41.3bn into the economy over 20 years, analysis shows today.
Researchers from PwC weighed up the cost benefit analysis of widening access to free hot dinners between 2025 and 2045 as pressure mounts on Liz Truss to help hard-up Brits struggling with rising food and fuel costs.
In a boost to our Free School Meals for All campaign, the report underlines the economic case for expanding free school meal provision.
The study, commissioned by Impact on Urban Health, found that free school meals slash costs for parents, save the NHS cash by reducing childhood obesity rates, and boost pupils' lifetime earnings by improving their educational attainment.
Offering school dinners to all children in Universal Credit households in England would result in £8.9bn in core benefits - rising to £25.2bn in total potential benefits when wider gains were included, such as expanding school catering.
It found that for every £1 invested, £1.38 would be clawed back in benefits.
If free school meals were extended to all kids in state schools in England, it would boost the economy by £41.3bn, rising to £99.5bn when wider gains are taken into account.
For every £1 invested in universal provision, £1.71 would be returned, the study found.
Under current rules, pupils in England get free school meals up to the end of Year 2 and then only if their families receive certain benefits.
Children whose families claim Universal Credit only qualify if their household earns less than £7,400-a-year after benefits.
Kieron Boyle, Chief Executive of Impact on Urban Health, said: “At a time when the Government is looking for ways to drive growth, this ground-breaking research shows that investing in expanding Free School Meals is a cost-effective way to drive economic growth and create a healthier society.
“It provides more than enough evidence for a transformational policy shift in school food and together with our partners, including the School Food Review coalition, we urge the Government to take this opportunity to create a more equitable school food system so more children are healthier and given the best chance in life.”
Anna Taylor, of the Food Foundation, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is having an awful impact on children with many going hungry and not getting the nutrition they need to grow up healthily.
"This is being seen by people across the country and our findings released today clearly demonstrate that the public believe that the Government needs to do more to help these children
"We strongly urge the Government to listen and urgently act to ensure that our children in need are guaranteed at least one nutritious meal a day at school.”
The Mirror has joined forces with the National Education Union (NEU) to demand free school meals for all primary schools in England to ensure no child goes hungry.
Our campaign has already been backed by more than 100 campaigners and politicians, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and broadcaster Gary Lineker.
A Government spokesperson said: “We do not recognise these figures. We have expanded access to free school meals more than any other government in recent decades, which currently reach 1.9 million children.
"We are also investing up to £24m in our National School Breakfast Programme, which provides free breakfasts to children in schools in disadvantaged areas.
“The Chancellor has unveiled a new growth plan, taking decisive action to get households and businesses through this winter and the next, by growing the economy to raise living standards for everyone.”
