Explore options of extending free school meals, says report
A fifth of households are struggling to get access to good quality food at reasonable prices, a report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee says, causing them to turn to unhealthy and high-calorie alternatives.
The Committee calls on the Government to explore the options and affordability of extending the provision of free school meals and to break what it calls the ‘junk food cycle’ the UK suffers from.
The report said the high and sustained rate of food inflation meant many households were having to take measures to save money like skipping meals. This could lead to physical and mental health consequences. The increase in food insecurity is partly because consumer price inflation has risen to its highest rates in over 40 years.
The report says: "We welcome steps by the Government to expand free school meal (FSM) eligibility. More children are receiving FSM than ever before in England, including all infant school children. However, there is evidence that extending FSM eligibility further could reap substantial benefits that outweigh the costs.
"The Government should, as a minimum, undertake a detailed study of the existing literature on the costs and benefits of extending FSM, which should as a minimum include extending FSM (a) for those children living in a Universal Credit claiming household, the impact of (i) raising the means-test to £20,000 post-tax income but before claiming benefits and (ii) removing the means-test and (b) universal provision."
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