BURNHAM-on-Sea MP James Heappey has defended his vote to introduce restrictions on free school meals for households claiming Universal Credit.

This week, Labour forced a vote in the House of Commons over proposals to introduce a £7,400 earnings threshold for free school meals.

Labour argued all children from households claiming Universal Credit benefits should be entitled to free school meals, as they currently are under 'transitional arrangements' during the rollout of the controversial scheme.

Mr Heappey said “he is glad” the move will result in 55,000 additional children being eligible to receive a free school meal.

He said: “I am pleased to have supported the Government in delivering this important change and I am delighted that the Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News is covering this significant increase in the provision of free school meals that will benefit many of the poorest families in our communities.”

But the Government says those who currently receive free school meals will not lose them on April 1 - even if their household breaches the £7,400 earnings threshold. 

However Labour, citing research by The Children's Society, says the changes mean up to a million children who would have been eligible for the meals under the current system will miss out once the threshold is introduced.

Before the vote Angela Rayner, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Education, said: “It is an absolute scandal that the Conservatives are pressing ahead with a plan that could leave over a million children without a hot meal in schools.

“These plans will create a dangerous cliff-edge in the Universal Credit system and make it harder for families on low incomes to make ends meet.

"The Government should have taken this opportunity to listen to Labour’s call for all children in families receiving Universal Credit to be eligible for free school meals, but instead they have chosen to make life harder for millions of parents across the country.”

Burnham MP James Heappey said he is 'glad' more children will be eligible for free school meals.

“I am pleased to have supported the Government in delivering this important change and I am delighted that the Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News is covering this significant increase in the provision of free school meals that will benefit many of the poorest families in our communities,” Mr Heappey

The Government claims the system will see 50,000 more pupils made eligible for free school meals than before the introduction of Universal Credit.

But Labour's bid to see the provision kept for all claimants was defeated in the Commons by 312 votes to 254.