The Mayor of London has unveiled an emergency scheme to extend free school meals to every primary school pupil in the capital for one year.
Sadiq Khan said the one-off £130m programme, which comes into effect from September, is an effort to help struggling households amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Funded 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.
Currently, households in England receiving Universal Credit must earn below £7,400 a year before benefits and after tax to qualify for free school meals.
According to the Food Foundation, an estimated 800,000 children in England are living in poverty but do not qualify.
