5th Mar 2021 - 08:30
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Charity School Food Matters has criticised the Budget announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, which failed to address the key points raised by the charity in January.
School Food Matters made five key recommendations including:
- Maintain Universal Infant Free School Meals.
- Expand eligibility for free school meals to include children from all families receiving Universal Credit and children with no recourse to public funds.
- Establish auto-enrolment for families eligible for FSM.
- Maintain and extend the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to drive investment in children’s healthy food.
- Expand the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme to all primary school children.
A spokesperson for School Food Matters, said: “It is regrettable to have not heard any of these points addressed. We are also supporting Magic Breakfast’s call to extend the National Schools Breakfast Programme, which went unmentioned.
“While we are happy to see the £20 Universal Credit uplift extended for at least another six months, which will provide some relief to the most vulnerable families, it is disappointing that there were no signs of new money for school food.”
According to the Food Foundation, 2.3 million children experienced food insecurity last year.
Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, added: “Child poverty levels were already too high pre-pandemic, yet children and parents were noticeable by their absence from this Budget.
“Extending the £20 uplift is vital because struggling families cannot keep afloat without it, but it will be as true in six months as it is now. The decision only postpones the pain. The Chancellor promised certainty to business- children and their families deserve no less.”