THE government denied today it was “dragging its feet” over whether to make free school meals permanently available to children in some families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).

Children and families minister Will Quince told MPs on the work and pensions committee that he hoped to make an announcement “at the earliest available opportunity.”

NRPF is a condition applied to those staying in Britain on temporary immigration status and who have not yet qualified for permanent residency, restricting their access to public funds.