Tories pledge £650 million to schools by scrapping free infant lunches
The Conservative Party is expected to reveal plans to scrap universal free lunches for infants in its manifesto.
Instead of infant lunches, it is being proposed that primary school pupils receive free school breakfasts, which would see schools receive an extra £650 million a year.
The party says the plan, expected to be unveiled in its manifesto later today, 18 May, will mean that no school loses out under the new national schools funding formula.
A Conservative spokesman said: "We have protected and increased school funding to the highest level on record but we accept there is more we can do. This extra money means no child will lose out.”
As well as the £650 million saving from scrapping universal infant free school lunches, there would be £200 million from "better systems" for the Student Loans Companies, £160 million from "departmental efficiencies" in Whitehall and £10 million from the levy on sugary drinks.
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