Children could lose out on 24 million meals this summer

Labour has warned that children could miss out on over 24 million meals this summer as analysis shows the Conservatives refused to completely extend free school meals during the holidays.

The government’s alternative holiday programme proposes free meals are provided to children who attend associated activities on just 16 of 30 weekdays this summer break, leaving children without food support for 14 days.

Tulip Siddiq, Labour’s Shadow Minister for kids, called the failure to guarantee free school meals over the whole summer ‘utterly shocking’.

Labour is calling on the government to believe parents and enable a method of cash payments for free school meals support during the holidays, ensuring families obtain the full worth of this support and can pick the food and supplies that are right for their children. The party’s own proposed Children’s Recovery Plan commits to extending free school meals support across the summer to ensure no child is left hungry, because the impact from the Conservatives’ decision to consider financial support from businesses will hit families.

Siddiq said “Feeding hungry children can't be a part-time activity, yet this Conservative Government is again stripping away the support that countless families depend on. Ministers have experienced to become shamed into providing food for hungry children through the pandemic which is a disgrace that we are having to do that once again. Ensuring no child goes hungry is at the heart of Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan, which includes guaranteeing free school meals support total summer break throughout the pandemic.”