Give families cash not food parcels

Labour: It’s time to trust parents

LABOUR has called for parents to be sent cash for free school meals instead of food parcels or vouchers, amid a fresh row over feeding the UK’S poorest kids over half-term.

Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green urged ministers to trust hard-up mums and dads with £15 a week, after shocking pictures emerged of “woeful” food packs sent to needy pupils.

Ms Green said the money should be paid through the benefits system, allowing parents to get full value and to choose supplies.

She said: “Ministers are claiming to be disgusted by the woefully inadequate food parcels, while blaming companies and proposing no long-term solution. The

Government should put its trust in parents by giving them the money to ensure children are not going hungry.”

The Child Poverty Action Group backed the call, saying it would reduce stigma. It comes as the

Government was criticised for telling schools they would not need to send food or vouchers in February half-term.

Instead, guidance says pupils will get fed under a £170million Covid Winter Grant Scheme announced in November.

Unlike free meals in term time, it is not a blanket offer to every child and the pot is also expected to cover family bills. The scheme was used over Christmas but, unlike then, the whole of England is now in full lockdown. Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the idea councils could create “a brand new system for half-term” using the scheme would “put millions of children at risk”.

Richard Watts, of the Local Government Association’s resources board, added: “Government was explicit the Winter Grant Scheme was not intended to replicate or replace free school meals.”

A Government spokesman said: “Vulnerable families will continue to receive meals and essentials over half-term through the Winter Grant Scheme.

“Our guidance is clear: schools provide free school meals for eligible pupils during term time. Beyond that, there is wider Government support.”

FOOD FIGHT Kate Green & how we covered rows