Almost 30,000 children on the poverty line in Devon and Cornwall are missing out on free school meals, a children's charity has said.
The Children's Society, which compiled the figures, said impoverished families are not getting support as claiming other benefits means they are ineligible.
North Devon Liberal Democrat MP Nick Harvey added some families were not claiming because of the "stigma" associated with the free lunch hand-out.
The former minister added the figures showed the Government's flagship schools funding reform is "flawed" as cash is linked to a school's level of free school meal claimants.
In Devon, 17,900 children are missing out.
The figure stands at 10,700 in Cornwall.
