Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
the impact on children in poverty of not providing the free
school meal vouchers scheme during the summer holidays.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Education and Department for International Trade () (Con) [V]
My Lords, the Government remain committed to ensuring that the
most disadvantaged children continue to be supported while
schools remain closed. The free school meal vouchers system has
seen more than £139 million-worth of voucher codes redeemed into
supermarket vouchers by families and schools as of Monday. This
provision is ordinarily about providing healthy meals for
children in school. As such, as schools close for the summer
holidays, this scheme will come to an end.
(Lab)
[V]
My Lords, exceptional times require exceptional measures. Food
insecurity among children has doubled under lockdown, yet DWP has
provided no extra money for children. For all their inadequacies,
free school meal vouchers have been a lifeline for low-income
parents struggling to feed hungry children. The holiday
activities fund mentioned yesterday by the Secretary of State
will reach only a tiny fraction of them. In view of the
Children’s Commissioner’s criticism that the decision lacks
compassion and is “exceptionally short-sighted”, can the Minister
explain why if Wales can provide this most basic support for
children in poverty during the school holidays and more
generously England cannot?
[V]
My Lords, the provision through the free school meal vouchers
system is at a higher rate than what is normally provided to
schools to provide free school meals, due to the recognition that
families do not have the economies of scale of schools. On
additional support to families, the noble Baroness will probably
be aware that during this period there has also been an uplift to
universal credit and to working tax credits, such that there is
an advantage of just over £1,000 a year, which affects 4 million
households. This is considerable support to families who, as we
recognise, are struggling to feed their children.
(Lab)
[V]
My Lords, we know that poverty leads to food insecurity for
children. Last week the Trussell Trust reported an 89% increase
in the need for emergency food parcels in April. Who will make up
for this loss of vouchers for free school meals? The UK has
signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Do the
Government now recognise their responsibility to the welfare of
children, especially vulnerable ones?
[V]
My Lords, the Government clearly recognise our responsibility to
vulnerable children and have enabled them to attend school during
this outbreak. The vouchers system we outlined is in addition to
the funding going to schools to provide free school meals on the
premises. In addition, there has been £16 million through DCMS
and Defra for food support through charities such as FareShare
and WRAP. There has been considerable support to enable food
provision for those in need.
(LD) [V]
To meet the cost of the Government’s Eatwell Guide to a healthy
diet, the poorest decile of UK households would need to spend 74%
of their after-housing disposable income on food. How will the
Government ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable children
have access to a healthy diet?
[V]
My Lords, funding of £9 million has been announced for the
provision of holiday activity clubs, which include food, during
the school holidays. We are currently in discussions with
contractors regarding the continuation of Family Action and Magic
Breakfast provision during the summer holidays.
(Con) [V]
The Minister has outlined the extra money put into family
budgets, and there are still people in poverty. Is not part of
the problem a need for proper budgetary advice and help for
families to manage better? In other words, it is a case not just
of money but of the way in which it is spent and giving families
assistance with their budgeting. Could we not look at an
educational part of this programme?
[V]
My Lords, budgeting is indeed a skill needed by many households,
particularly those on limited income. Before the Covid crisis
hit, there was an almost 16% increase in the Budget to the Money
and Pensions Service, which gives essential advice and support,
particularly to those dealing with debt.
(CB)
[V]
My Lords, 15.4% of children were eligible for free school meals
in 2019, with 42% in pupil referral units and 37% in special
schools. Many of these children’s health and well-being would at
least in part be protected if their entitlement to the equivalent
of free school meals were to continue through the summer holidays
to the autumn term. A high proportion of recipients are from BME
backgrounds and many are child carers. Does the Minister consider
it appropriate to go back to Her Majesty’s Government and
re-emphasise noble Lords’ support for the continuing provision of
the equivalent of £15 per child per week to promote a level of
equality of access to food for children in the poorest households
this summer?
[V]
My Lords, I always take back representations made by noble Lords
and will take that one back. As I have outlined, there has been
an increase in support through the universal credit system and
working tax credits. For those who are furloughed, the national
living wage is more than £3,000 higher than in 2016, which
affects the wages of those put on that scheme. We are concerned
to ensure that households are able to make provision at the
moment.
(Lab)
[V]
My Lords, the Children’s Society has highlighted how the cost of
living has increased for families due to the pandemic, as more
children are at home while parents’ earnings have often
decreased, leaving many families struggling with the cost of food
and other essentials. Demand for food banks has risen
substantially, yet the Government think this is the time for yet
more pressure for the millions of families across the country
suffering financial hardship because of Covid-19 by withdrawing
the free school meal vouchers scheme over the summer. With MPs
from across the parties joining the call for the scheme to be
extended to cover the summer holidays, this must surely be the
Government’s next U-turn. If not, how does the Minister suggest
parents should feed their children without the vouchers scheme
during these immensely difficult times?
[V]
My Lords, as I have outlined, the vouchers scheme was in addition
to the funding given to schools to provide free school meals on
the premises. It has always been the position that free school
meals provision was when schools were open, and it is not
expected that schools will be open throughout the summer holiday.
There has been a £6.5 billion injection into the DWP budget and
more than 1 million food parcels have been distributed through
Defra and other government departments. There is support out
there for those who need provision.
(LD) [V]
My Lords, should not the Government negotiate a deal for some
form of reimbursement to themselves from the large supermarkets
involved in this scheme, many of which are making good profits
from the crisis? This could perhaps enable the scheme to be
extended. In any event, the poorest children should be our
priority.
[V]
My Lords, I will take back to my colleagues in BEIS the novel and
motivational idea that the noble Lord outlines. As we have seen,
those in the supermarkets have been essential workers during this
time of crisis. As I have outlined, we are in discussion with
Magic Breakfast and Family Action about breakfast club provision
during the summer holidays.
(CB) [V]
My Lords, I declare an interest as chair of ukactive. Far fewer
children than expected have been accessing school and school
meals during the pandemic. This has left them in a perilous
position. They now face up to 23 weeks without engaging in
structured and enriching activities outside their home. Will Her
Majesty’s Government confirm that they will explore all options
for keeping some schools’ facilities open safely across the
summer holidays, providing activity and food, to support the most
vulnerable children?
[V]
My Lords, the latest statistics show that around 15% of
vulnerable children are in school. The noble Baroness is correct
that we are concerned about the sedentary nature of many children
at the moment. On the phased reopening of schools, there has been
specific guidance to encourage the use of outdoor space, and even
team sports, where the appropriate hygiene measures are carried
out among the different groups of children involved. DCMS now
also has guidance on the phased reintroduction of outdoor
activity and recreation.
