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eMoney News

'More youngsters on free school dinners'
18 Aug 2009

Rising unemployment in the UK has led to more children qualifying for free school meals in Lancashire, it has emerged.

The Lancashire Evening Post reports that east Lancashire has the most recorded cases of free dinners in its county, but Preston and South Ribble primary schools have witnessed the largest increases in recent times.

For example, the number of pupils in the latter who are legitimately not paying for their lunches rose from 8.27 to 9.49 per cent between January 2008 and 2009, but went up 10.6 per cent between January and May this year alone.

County Councillor Pat Case, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "Eligibility has been widened and eased and the number of children potentially coming in is also likely to increase because of the number of adults out of work."

UK based eMoney secure payments network sQuidcard offers a cashless catering option to schools in Wiltshire.

Parents can load their children's smart cards with cash and monitor what the money is being spend on at school.

With the reported increase in free school dinners being required, sQuidcard's smart card technology can ensure children who are entitled to such meals receive this allowance discreetly, free from any stigmatisation.