Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of inflation on the levels of access to food over the school holidays for children in living in low income families.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

In England, the holiday activities and food programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families. This benefits their heath, wellbeing and learning, and contributes to recovery from COVID-19. This is supported by over £200 million funding each year.

To support people who need additional welfare help, the government is providing an extra £500 million of local support via the Household Support Fund, which is being extended to March 2023. This brings the total amount provided to £1.5 billion since October 2021.

Devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula up to October 2022, and a further £79 million from October 2022 to March 2023.

Schools are responsible for the provision of school meals and may enter individual contracts with suppliers and caterers to meet this duty.