Thank you, Llywydd. Free school meals continue to be an important element of our efforts to eradicate poverty. We have clearly seen their importance over the challenging past 15 months. Unfortunately, the number of learners in receipt of free school meals has increased throughout the pandemic. And the interim data from the pupil level annual school census for 2021 demonstrates that 108,203 pupils are eligible at the moment. This is an increase of almost 18,000 pupils in one year. We cannot ignore the reality of that.

Our programme for government includes a commitment to respond to the increased demand for free school meals as a result of the pandemic, and to review the criteria for qualification, extending as much as possible. I have brought this work forward based on interim data, rather than confirmed data, so we have already started this work, putting the structure and remit of the review in place. There will be work across Government to see what the implications are in terms of policy and cost for other initiatives and grants that use information about eligibility for free school meals.

We're also looking at research and evidence and the work commissioned by the Bevan Foundation and the Wales Anti-poverty Coalition. The Bevan Foundation have estimated themselves the cost of extending provision, which at the moment is quite a way off our own estimates, but I've given clear direction to my officials that they must work closely with Policy in Practice, which did the analysis work, in order to get a better understanding of their methodology and valuation as part of our review. I'm expecting the review to be completed in the autumn, and I will provide an update to Members at the beginning of the new Senedd term in September.