Last week’s debate on free school meals has undoubtedly been badly mishandled.
No Member of Parliament or elected official believes children should go hungry. Both during and after the national lockdown the Government listened to the campaign of Marcus Rashford and acted to address child food insecurity by making available £380m worth of supermarket vouchers while schools were closed. This was the right thing to do during the lockdown and it has a positive impact for those on low incomes.
Free school meals will continue to be provided during term time, as they have since 1996, but more needs to be done to eradicate child hunger across all age groups. The temporary measure to provide free school meals during non-term time and lockdown was just that, temporary. The government has long been working on an effective strategy to address child hunger by the commission of the National Food Strategy Report by Henry Dimbleby.
Stage one of the report recommends that the government; extends of the eligibility of free school meals; expands the Holiday Activity and Food Programme so that free school meals are available outside of term time in all areas of England; and increases the value of Healthy Start vouchers.
These three recommendations should be introduced. They need to be introduced and many of us have been in conversation with relevant government ministers to see them implemented. In doing so they will ensure that a long-term strategy is in place to tackle child hunger.
Covid-19 has shone a light on the inequality across the country. The government has a plan to level up, which can provide the equality of opportunity across all regions and communities of this country. The plan needs to be developed and implemented, and at its heart it needs to ensure a combination of state and localised action address the societal issues as we find them.
The UK has one of the most comprehensive and generous welfare systems in the world. It should be noted that during the pandemic we have introduced a further £9 billion cash injection, as well as increasing the efficiency and speed from application to receiving funds. This increase equates to an increase over £1,000 per year to help those families who find themselves in difficulties.
Last week’s handling of the vote and the subsequent response has obfuscated the fact that work is already on going to provide a solution to child hunger, and one that will actually help more children than those who are currently receiving support.
Our communities across South Devon have shown themselves to be resilient and effective in rolling out help and assistance throughout this year. These towering pillars of community support need to be a given the freedom and space to continue to provide their services. I want to see the recommendations outlined in the National Food Strategy report implemented. After all, it has been commissioned by the Government! If agreed, then I will be working with foodbanks and local community engagement groups to make sure a long-term effective strategy is in place to ensure that no child is left hungry.