The Liberal Democrats are calling for the “deeply flawed” voucher scheme for administering free school meals during the lockdown to be bolstered by cash to families, in the form of an uplift in child benefit of £150 per week per child, and £100 for every subsequent child in the family.
Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran has warned the flaws meant that “many vulnerable children are still falling through the cracks and going hungry.”
According to the Liberal Demcorats, many parents in rural areas currently have no shop near them that is part of the scheme, and that the complex process for the vouchers disadvantaged families with low incomes and poor internet connectivity.
The call comes after MPs on the Education Committee criticised the scheme heavily yesterday.
Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Too many vulnerable children are still falling through the cracks and going hungry. The Government needs to acknowledge that this voucher scheme is deeply flawed and provide parents with an urgent child benefit uplift of £150 per child.
“For parents in rural areas, increasing cash available to families would make it much easier to get food for their kids – at the moment, their only local shop is unlikely to be part of the scheme. And the complicated online system unfairly disadvantages families with low incomes and poor internet connectivity.”