'Free meals for poor kids in summer schools' call - Govt say 'can't justify the £40m cost? 'Fat cats' on diet?

Question

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Free meals call for summer school

Children are being urged to eat health food all year round

Free meals should be given to children from the poorest families attending summer holiday clubs, say researchers.

More than 800,000 children who usually get free school meals face six weeks without support, says the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Children from low-income families should benefit from nutritious food throughout the year, says the IPPR.

Head teachers welcome the idea but think the government would struggle to justify the £40m bill.

In the holidays, many poor children are eating cheaper and energy dense food but are being nutritionally deprived

There are about 850,000 children in England who receive free school meals - and when these children attend summer school clubs they should continue to be offered free meals, says the IPPR think tank, to ensure they eat healthy - BBC 'Have your say'

Answer 1

If they can't be offered free, they could be subsidised to a similar cost as the junk food the parents buy their kids.

Answer 2

The money would be better spent promoting healthy eating and banning certain fats/additives etc in 'fast food'.

It annoys me that  just because someone's on a low income everyone thinks they're incapable of feeding their children properly.  Why not give parents vouchers for fresh food in the summer instead?

Answer 3

Tell you what why donr we just give them all the food they need.  And clothes and free entertainment and heating and electricity so the parents dont have to pay for anything they need and so dont have to work.

Answer 4

I agree. Now whats's your question?