Up to 350,000 children could lose their free school meals, in a government move which could see children from the poorest families hit hard. Barry spoke out in parliament yesterday to ask for a debate on the matter.

According to a report by the Children's Society, a charity which aims to see children respected and valued, 120,000 poorer families could see their children no longer entitled to free school meals. In a report titled 'Fair and Square', the charity said that the switch to a 'universal credit system' would replicate the worst of the current welfare system and leave the poorest families needing a wage rise of 60% to compensate for lost benefits.

Speaking in Parliament, Barry raised the issue during Business Questions, saying: "May I remind the Leader of the House that one of the consequences—it may be an unintended consequence—of Government changes to benefits for families is that many children from the poorest families will lose their free school meals? That is a very important and terrible challenge for the House. Will he make sure that we have an early opportunity to debate this dramatic change?"

Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Stephen Twigg, said that the Conservative-led government had shown "a scant disregard for the welfare of some of the poorest children in England" and that the Labour Party would consider the matter as part of its policy review.