In the Spring, 7,269 pupils were eligible, but this figure went up to 8,359 in the Autumn, according to the Liberal Democrat Group.
Cllr Jane Carr (Lib Dem, Newport Pagnell South) has said these numbers show the need for “permanent solutions to child hunger”.
She added: “We know that last month the government U-turned on their decision not to extend free school meals, which is a welcome move, but we need more permanent measures to tackle child hunger, which I fear is only going to get worse during the pandemic.”
Cllr Car adds that the Lib Dem group has written an open letter to Milton Keynes' MPs Iain Stewart and Ben Everitt to tackle this.
The open letter and motion call for Milton Keynes MPs and the Council’s Cabinet to lobby for permanent change, including:
- Free school meals to every pupil whose parents or guardians are in receipt of Universal Credit
- Food vouchers for every one of those pupils in every school holiday and during any period of lockdown
- Free school meals to pupils from low-income families whose parents or guardians have no recourse to public funds and destitute asylum seekers under s4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Councillor Carr concluded: “If these figures show us anything, it is that the time to act is now, and I sincerely hope our government will, as our children deserve better.”
MKFM will provide further updates on the process of the letter.
© MKFM News 2020
