SOUTH Somerset MP Marcus Fysh 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 Fysh argued that around 50,000 more children could receive school meals than would have under the old benefits system.

He said: "Between them, the Labour Party and the Children's Society have been totally misleading on this issue and no doubt caused great anxiety to many families unnecessarily.

"As a complete and improved system of welfare support, Universal Credit includes what was previously many different benefits.

"A family with children could receive some element of Universal Credit with a combined income of around £40,000.

"These are hardly the children living in poverty that are being portrayed, in fact if all families in receipt of Universal Credit got free school meals that would be around 50% of pupils instead of focussing on the most disadvantaged."

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.”

A spokesman for Yeovil Liberal Democrats added: "It’s shocking how intent the Conservatives have been to diminish one of the Liberal Democrat’s achievements in the Coalition Government.

"We believe that children of all backgrounds deserve a free school meal. It’s even worse how low the threshold is; a lot of low-income children will suffer unnecessarily.’’

Marcus Fysh added: "As Universal Credit is rolled out it was temporarily the case that everyone in receipt would get free school meals and this is now being changed.

"However, no one currently in receipt of them will lose their entitlement.

"In fact it is estimated that 50,000 more children will receive school meals than would have under the old benefits system.

"I can understand why people were very concerned about the claims, which would have been alarming if true, and the worry caused to families is deeply regrettable."

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