Treasury rejects claims it refused extra £150m for free school meals

Education secretary Gavin Williamson did not ask for funds for half-term, say officials

The Treasury has rejected the idea that it refused to fund an extension of free school meals, with sources claiming Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, failed to make any request for the £150m cost.

Treasury sources said there was no request from Williamson for extra funds to cover school meals for 1.4 million disadvantaged pupils over half-term, suggesting the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, was irritated at the suggestion his department was to blame for the row. “There was nothing proposed or mentioned from Department for Education,” one source said.

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3ovI2Ww