WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols is backing calls for the Government to extend free school meals over May half term and summer holidays.
New Labour analysis estimates that 85,400 children in the North West became eligible for free school meals during the first year of the pandemic, with the Party now calling on the Government to extend free school meals over the forthcoming holidays to ensure no children go hungry.
Ms Nichols said: ““This has been a hard year for all of us, but these shocking figures show just how hard the pandemic has hit families and children in the North West.
“Labour called for proper support at the time and I voted to extend free school meals during October half term but the Conservatives blocked that.
“We can’t let the pandemic ruin the next generation’s life chances and the Government must now act quickly to make sure these children are properly fed throughout the whole of the summer when they are not at school.
“Let’s be proactive and not just acknowledge the harm done afterwards.”
Labour say Government data shows that from March to October 2020, 1612 children became eligible for free school meals each week as the Conservatives failed to support families through the first phase of the pandemic.
In the Autumn term beginning September 2020 23 per cent of children in the North West were eligible for free school meals.
During this time, the Conservatives voted against feeding children during the October half-term and set out guidance which allowed the provision of miserly food parcels, in line with those shared online in January.
Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, is calling on the Government to extend free school meals during next week’s half-term break and the upcoming summer holidays.
Currently, the Conservatives’ Holiday Activities and Food Programme proposes providing food and activities to children eligible for free school meals during just half the summer holiday, leaving children at risk of going hungry for half the summer break.
Labour is also calling on the Government to set-up cash transfers for free school meals ensuring families get the full value of this support and enabling parents to buy the food and supplies that are right for their children.
Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said: “The Conservatives have failed to support families in the North West throughout this pandemic and are now reliant on local councils to plug gaps in free school meals support throughout the holidays.
“Feeding children is not a half-time activity. Labour is calling on the Conservatives to trust parents with the money for free school meals so they can buy the food and supplies their children need throughout the whole of the holidays.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said, “It was always likely that more pupils would become eligible for free school meals during the pandemic. That’s why we have ensured that, throughout this period, schools have continued to accept applications for free school meals, providing meals to anyone who becomes newly eligible, including while pupils were learning remotely.
“We have also committed to extending the breakfast clubs programme for disadvantaged pupils over the next two years. Outside term-time, we have expanded our holiday activities and food programme to every local authority across the country this year, and the COVID winter grant scheme was also extended over Easter, to further support vulnerable families.”
