Therese Coffey suggests some on universal credit are too wealthy to get free school meals

The health secretary has suggested some people on universal credit (UC) are too wealthy to get free school meals in response to calls to increase the number of people eligible for the benefit.

Therese Coffey claimed those earning more than £40,000 a year on UC could be eligible for free school lunches for their children if the threshold was extended.

She was responding to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver who said the extension could inject funds into the system which would “guarantee a much better service across 26,000 schools in the country”.

At present, the children of parents who are on UC and have an annual income of no more than £7,400, or are on another benefit such as jobseeker’s allowance, are eligible for free school meals.

Watch: What is Universal Basic Income?

Coffey told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday: "I know this (extend threshold for free school meals) has been suggested in the past.

"I am aware that people could be earning over £40,000 and still be on UC.

"I think it is important support is targeted. I am not aware of any further changes that are being proposed to what happens today."

When pressed on whether this meant she was against the extension, she said it was for the education secretary to decide.

She added: “I am just flagging that people in UC given it is a dynamic in-work and out-of-work benefit can actually be earning a considerable amount of money, which I think other taxpayers may be surprised to learn that someone on £35,000 to £40,000 would all of a sudden become eligible for free school meals.”

Read more: Free school meals plea for every child living in poverty

The interviewer pointed out that people could be earning £35,000 to £40,000, but the cutoff for free school meals was £7,500 and asked if this could be raised.

Coffey said it was a similar cutoff in Scotland and the £7,500 was net income.

She said: “You’re not comparing the gross income people have coming into their families with how the threshold gets calculated or assessed.”

In response to Oliver's comments about free school meals, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We do provide a significant number of families with free school meals.

"Obviously we need to make sure we’re setting the right balance.”

Read more: The benefits that could be cut for millions - and how much you'd lose

Liz Truss is battling a party rebellion over her proposed plans to impose a real-terms cut to benefits by increasing them in line with earnings instead of inflation.

This would mean an increase of around 5%, instead of a 10% inflation-linked rise, amounting to a real-terms decrease.

New analysis from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), has concluded this would push 200,000 more children into poverty, almost all of whom would be in families with at least one working parent.

The prime minister has been criticised by anti-poverty campaigners, opposition MPs and her own backbenchers after she refused to commit to keeping former chancellor Rishi Sunak’s promise to uprate benefits in line with the rising cost of living.

According to the latest government figures, 41% of people who receive UC are employed.

Some 30% of recipients are not able to work due to health reasons or caring responsibilities.