Overview

This bill aims to provide free school meals to children over 16 attending colleges in England and Wales, aligning their provision with that of students in schools, academies, and free schools.

Description

The Free School Meals (Children over the age of 16) Bill amends the Education Act 1996. Specifically, it adds "or general further education and sixth form college" to the list of institutions where free school meals are provided under Section 512. This ensures that students aged 16 and over in colleges receive the same meal provision as their peers in other educational settings.

Key Changes:

• Extends free school meal eligibility to 16+ year olds in colleges.
• Aligns meal provision across different educational settings.
• The bill will come into effect two months after it is passed.
• The bill applies to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill will lead to increased government spending to cover the cost of providing free school meals to eligible college students. The exact figure is not specified in the provided text.

Groups Affected

The bill will primarily affect:

• 16+ year-old students attending colleges in England and Wales: They will benefit from free school meals.
• Colleges in England and Wales: They will be responsible for administering the free school meal program.
• UK Government: They will face increased financial burdens due to the costs of providing the meals.

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