Labour calls for free school meals in school holidays, as eligibility rises

The opposition party is calling on the Government to provide a free school meals extension over half-term and summer holidays.

Government data shows that from March to October last year more than 11,000 children became eligible for free school meals each week. Combined with Labour FOI data this suggests over 418,000 children became eligible for free school meals from March to December 2020.

Last year, the Conservative Party voted against a proposal to extend free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021. Currently, the Conservatives’ Holiday Activities and Food Programme proposes providing food and activities to children eligible for free school meals during half of the summer holiday.

Labour is 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.

Shadow education secretary Kate Green said, ‘The Conservatives have failed to support families 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.’

In response, a Government spokesperson said, ‘We have invested billions into additional welfare spending throughout the pandemic, on top of our £269 million Covid Local Support Grant. We have also increased the value of Healthy Start vouchers by over a third, to help parents of young children purchase healthy food for their families.

‘We made sure that schools could provide free school meals to eligible pupils over the past year, including while they were learning remotely, and have also committed to extend the Breakfast Clubs programme to 2023.

‘Our expanded Holiday Activities and Food programme, which provides healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children, will continue to run this summer and Christmas in every local authority in England.’