Responding to the news, Welsh Conservatives Shadow Minister for Education Laura Anne Jones MS, said:
“It is right that children who need a free school meal receive one, but I have always been concerned that the huge undertaking of feeding so many children would result in quality being diminished and children - who free meals are meant to be helping - are not getting a stable and healthy meal as a result.
“We know that Labour have underfunded schools for this policy, forcing schools to choose between feeding or teaching. Councils are already covering the costs themselves and are struggling to deliver the scheme on budget and the Minister – oblivious to schools’ needs - said in January that no additional funding would be necessary.
“Along with cutting the education budget in real terms this year, Labour are harming our children’s future with their poor planning, forgetting about the logistics of delivering such a scheme is typical of the Welsh Government.”
