Free school meals will not be cut in the November spending review, as recent reports suggested.
David Cameron has said he is "committed" to continuing free school meals in England for all children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 at state schools, as stated in the Tories' 2015 manifesto.
Speculation the meals were going to be cut stemmed from Chancellor George Osborne demanding spending cuts up to 40%.
According to the BBC, Cameron said: "[We are] committed to free school meals in England... it was in the manifesto, the manifesto words are very clear - we're proud of what we've done with free school meals."
It is estimated by the Government free school meals save parents £400 per child per year.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education also confirmed free school meals will stay, telling the BBC: "We believe that every child, regardless of their background, should have the same opportunities.
"We have provided significant financial support to schools to help them deliver universal infant free school meals.
"We have come a long way, and the new School Food Standards mean pupils of all ages are eating good food that sows the seeds for healthy eating for life."
Launched in January 2015, the Department for Education set new standards for all food served in schools. They were designed to make it easier for school cooks to create imaginative, flexible and nutritious menus.
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Dave Prentis, general secretary of the Unison union also commented on the news.
He said according to the Mirror: "Recent speculation that the free meals might be scrapped will have caused many cash-strapped parents much anxiety.
"But thankfully the Government has seen sense, responded to the pressure put on them, and now free school meals will live to see another day."
