Tesco chief says giving free school meals to more needy children is 'a no-brainer'

Tesco chairman John Allan has warned Tory ministers are failing hundreds of thousands of children from less well-off families who are being denied free dinners due to strict eligibility rules Ministers refuse to extend free school meals to more children - despite 800,000 poor children absent (

Image: Humphrey Nemar.)

Giving more children access to free school meals is a 'no-brainer' that would boost the economy, Tesco boss says.

John Allan, the supermarket's chairman, has warned that Tory ministers are failing hundreds of thousands of children from less well-off families who are denied free dinners due to strict eligibility rules.

“Extending support for free school meals is much more than an emergency measure in difficult times,” he said. "It's an investment in every child's potential and in their future."

The entrepreneur has thrown his support behind a campaign by youth-led group Bite Back 2030, which is pushing to extend eligibility to young people living in poverty who are not getting free dinners.

Around 1.7 million pupils in England whose families qualify for Universal Credit are not eligible for free meals, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Currently, all children get free school dinners until the end of grade 2, then they are only eligible if their household has certain benefits.

Tesco Chairman John Allan says more children should be entitled to free school meals (

Picture:

Zuma Press/PA Pictures)

Children from families on Universal Credit are eligible if their after-tax household income is below £7,400...