Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield responds to extension of free school meals over summer holidays

Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, responding to the extension of Free School Meals over the summer holidays said:

“Last week I wrote to the Chancellor calling on the Government to urgently reconsider its decision not to extend Free School Meals over the summer holidays. I am very pleased that Ministers have now seen sense and changed their minds. Free school meals are the last line of defence against poverty and hunger for many families.

“I would like to thank Marcus Rashford for all he has done this week to highlight the blight of holiday hunger. Today’s announcement will help many families, but there will still be four million children living in poverty, a number that could increase following the covid crisis. Tackling child poverty does not end here and should be the mission of every government.”