PARENTS, teachers and experts have urged the government to introduce free school meals in primary schools in England as a new survey today reveals most families have cut back on food shopping.

The Survation poll for the National Education Union (NEU) found 52 per cent of struggling parents and carers in England are cutting back on the food shop, 59 per cent on energy and 36 per cent on out-of-school activities for kids.

Campaigners urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to make free school meals available to the 4.6 million children in state primary schools in England — as London, Wales and Scotland have done — in next month’s Spring Budget.