A Government spokesperson said:
“As was the case over Christmas, vulnerable families will
continue to receive meals and other essentials over February half
term via councils through the £170 million Covid Winter Grant
Scheme launched last year.
"Our guidance is clear: schools provide free school meals for
eligible pupils during term time. Beyond that, there is wider
government support in place to support families and children via
the billions of pounds in welfare support we've made available."
Background information:
- For families facing hardship as a result of coronavirus,
further government
support has been available since November through the
Covid
Winter Grant Scheme. Funding is ring-fenced,
with at least 80% earmarked to support with food and bills, and
will cover the period to the end of March 2021. Local
Authorities received the funding at the beginning of December
2020.
- To place the Covid Winter Grant Scheme in context, the cost
of providing free school meals to eligible children for two weeks
is around £40m based on government data.
- We know that many schools do not want to deal with cash –
especially during a pandemic – so vouchers and food parcels are
the most effective and flexible solution. Schools know best what
families in their area need. This is why we have provided
flexibility of local vouchers which will be reimbursed and
backdated to 4 January.
- The Holiday Activities and Food programme, which has provided
healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children,
has been expanded across England this year. It will cover Easter,
Summer and Christmas in 2021, and cost up to £220m. It will be
available to children in every local authority in England,
building on previous programmes – including this summers, which
supported around 50,000 children across 17 local authorities.
- We have also provided £35 million to support schools in
disadvantaged areas provide breakfasts to those who need it, and
£32 million for food distribution charities including FareShare.
- Healthy Start scheme payments are also set to increase from
£3.10 to £4.25 a week from April 2021. This scheme supports
pregnant women or those with children under four who have a low
income and are in receipt of benefits to buy fresh fruit and
vegetables. This will help people boost the long-term health of
their children.
- This Government is committed to support the lowest paid
families, and has taken significant steps to do so, including
raising the living wage, ending the benefit freeze and increasing
work incentives.
- As part of its Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create
employment, the government has continued to provide for families
to protect, support and create employment.
