Thank you for contacting me about the urgent need for free school meals in every primary school.

The truth is that the very existence of food poverty in this country is a scandal. There are children going to bed that are hungry because their families cannot afford to buy food.

Food poverty is not a food problem, it is a poverty problem. I believe that more action is needed to tackle the causes of poverty to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient and nutritious food.

I know that the appalling rise in prices for staple goods is hitting people hard and one of the knock-on effects is that one in four households with children experienced food insecurity in September this year.

I believe it is simply not good enough that the Government appears to have abdicated responsibility and it is providing no real plan to tackle the problems facing our food system.

The number of state-funded primary school children eligible for free school meals is growing, rising from 13.8% five years ago to 23.1% in the last academic year. I know the Food Foundation has highlighted that 26% of households with children have experienced food insecurity in September, which has increased by 50% since April.

It is clear from a wealth of studies and my own personal experience as an MP, that child poverty wastes potential and harms our country’s success and prosperity. 

More importantly, it hurts children, not just in the future, but as they grow up. It harms their health and holds back their learning. It damages their sense of self-esteem and wellbeing. This Government must rededicate itself to tackling the scourge of child poverty.

Despite increasing pressure from the Government and impassioned advocates such as Marcus Rashford. The Government did not announce any changes to its free school meals policy at the Autumn Statement. Previously it has said it believes the current threshold level for free school meals is the right one but that it keeps eligibility under review.

I do not believe it is right that so many children are coming to school hungry, which is why I am supporting calls for breakfast clubs for every primary school child in England, giving them a healthy meal to start their day. We must also ensure that families eligible for free school meals are supported, empowering parents to choose the food and supplies needed to help them battle rising prices.

The Government Food Strategy, published in June, could have been an opportunity to ensure that every family has access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food. However, there were no concrete proposals in it to tackle the major issues facing this country. With prices soaring in the shops and on energy bills, I am worried this shows a lack of vision or a plan for Britain. Our children deserve better.

As poverty has risen over the last decade, efforts to close the educational attainment gap have faltered. Longer term, I believe we need to remove tax breaks for private schools and put the £1.7 billion into state schools instead, to hire more teachers and invest in all our children.

I have seen first-hand how people across the country are feeling the real-world impacts of rising prices. Whether it’s at the petrol pump or the supermarket, or when we get our energy bills, we’re all noticing it. 

Therefore, I have launched a new section on my website dedicated to providing support and advice. A key part of this new hub is a booklet I have created which I hope can provide help and advice. https://www.louisehaigh.org.uk/cost-of-living-support/ 

I have tried to gather information about all the agencies, organisations and charities that are out there, who can provide you with help, information and advice about how to manage your bills and costs.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this issue. I can assure you that I will continue to fight to ensure no child is left hungry in our country.