No such thing as a free lunch: Councils forced to make up £26m school meals shortfall

The government's free school meals policy has come under fire from the Local Government Association (LGA) after new research showed councils were having to divert money from other budgets to make good on the promise.

 

While the government has made around £150m available for councils to fund the scheme, announced by Nick Clegg at his party's conference in Glasgow last year, that money has been earmarked for essential capital-work projects such as building new kitchens.

 

Separate funding is provided for the dinners themselves. But with just a month to go until the first free meals are served, the LGA estimates the shortfall comes to around £25.9m.

 

The LGA's survey of 75 councils found that 47 per cent had not received enough funding, of which 49 per cent said they would have to make up the shortfall themselves and a further 37 per cent said the cash would have to come directly from school budgets intended for other necessary work such as repairs and maintenence. 

 

From September the policy will apply to 1.55m children between the ages of four and seven. Councils without enough money will have to find on average £488,000 each. 

 

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said: "Hard-pressed schools and councils are being forced to bail out David Cameron's government because of its own incompetence." 

 

Cllr David Simmonds, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, added: "This research makes it clear central government has not provided schools with enough money to do the essential work necessary to give 1.5m children a free meal at lunchtime. It is councils and schools who are picking up the bill for this work, at a time when budgets are already squeezed and tough decisions are being taken."