Keighley MP Kris Hopkins has welcomed today’s government announcement that all infant school children in England will receive free school lunches.

The move – for children in reception, year one and year two – will be introduced next September.

Mr Hopkins said: “This is excellent news for parents with children aged five, six or seven and will save them around £400 per child over the course of the school year.

“It is also good news for the children themselves, who will now be guaranteed a nutritious meal every day during term time.

“A recent government-funded study found that packed lunches were, in the main, much less healthy than a cooked meal.

“It also concluded that a hot lunch was likely to raise educational attainment in the classroom.

“This is a bold move from the government and it is an initiative I warmly welcome.

“Children in reception, year one and year two are at a crucial stage in life, and this can only bring benefit to them.”

The new policy will not prohibit packed lunches, but the aim is that more pupils will opt for school dinners.