It is a mistake to see the provision of free school meals as costing M£20 for the 5 days of half term. The lunches in question will cost precisely the same with, as without, the vouchers. It is a question only of who pays. In one case those in jobs with enough spare money to pay taxes; in the other case the certified needy, the out-of-work, incapacitated, or single-parent. The only way to save money is if some children go hungry.
One of the main costs of means-tested assistance is the cost of testing the need. But that has been done. The needy are identified, and the particular need for food has been accepted.
I admit to slight surprise that it is as many as 15.9% of secondary school pupils that fall in this category (in the academic year 2019/20), [1,2]. But I note that Conservative and Labour parties have both accepted this call on the public purse.
[1]. https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/lgastandard?mod-area=E92000001&mod-group=AllRegions_England&mod-metric=2174&mod-type=namedComparisonGroup
[2]. 21% in NE England, 11% in SE England
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