Give the poorest children free meal vouchers, Labour says

SHADOW EDUCATION Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey will tell the Government to “take a long hard look at its priorities” as it continues its campaign for the extension of free meal vouchers for the poorest families in Parliament.

Yesterday opposition MPs, including Leeds East’s Richard Burgon, Hull East’s Karl Turner and Emma Hardy for Hull West and Hessle, wrote to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, stating many parents face increased financial pressure after losing income during the coronavirus pandemic.

They urged the Government to provide funding for free meals over the summer holidays, just as they did in the Easter holidays and May half-term break.

During an opposition day debate today, Ms Long Bailey will say: “Shamefully, children go hungry every year, but this summer will be especially difficult for many families as job losses and reduced incomes hit household budgets.

“It would be deeply callous of the Government not to take this small step to ease the financial pressure on households and ensure children can eat during the summer holidays.”

In Leeds East, 4,203 pupils were eligible for free school meals in January 2019, and last month, the constituency was ranked by the End Child Poverty Coalition among the worst 20 in the country for the greatest rise in child poverty between 2014 and 2018.

Mr Burgon said: “There is a simple solution to this, the Government should continue funding free school meals throughout the summer holidays. Their refusal to do so is a deeply callous move.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said the £63m local authority welfare assistance scheme would “provide help those to who are struggling to afford food and other essentials”.