Fund holiday clubs to provide meals for disadvantaged

Henry Dimbleby, who leads the government's national food strategy, said a better way of dealing with the issue of free school meal during school holidays is to enable holiday clubs to provide meals for disadvantaged children.

Dimbleby who said he has been lobbying ministers to act, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "One in seven families already are reporting not being able to afford enough food."

He said that kind of support through holiday clubs had been shown to have a better impact than putting the same amount of money into Universal Credit.

Asked about the Christmas break, Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said it is learning lessons from the pilot projects. He said: "Let's come together and look at this and see what we're doing currently; the additional help for families on Universal Credit is making a difference as well.

"But, ultimately, we want to make sure - as the Prime Minister said - no child goes without a meal at Christmas and, by the way, a healthy meal."