I seem to be out of step with most people on the free school meals extension, and of course if children are going hungry we need to feed them urgently,
but surely if people either are on low wages and cant feed their children, or the benefits aren't enough to buy food, then it is the money that needs sorting out, rather than taking power and responsibility away from the parents.

If some parents can afford food but are not prioritising their children, it is a matter for social services to help with.

Honey wrote:
I seem to be out of step with most people on the free school meals extension, and of course if children are going hungry we need to feed them urgently,
but surely if people either are on low wages and cant feed their children, or the benefits aren't enough to buy food, then it is the money that needs sorting out, rather than taking power and responsibility away from the parents.

If some parents can afford food but are not prioritising their children, it is a matter for social services to help with.

It's well and good but it shouldn't be funded by central government it should be done by local councils are Marcus Rashford and his friends should set up a charity and just pressure local businnesses to get involved. Footballers can get setup charity auction with ease.

How comes councils can give shelter to illegals but can't house a man with a dog ??

Sadly you can't trust many of the parents to prioritise a limited income on food for their children, while I am sure at the same time that many decent poor parents genuinely struggle.

Social services can help some I am sure, but many drug and alcohol addicted parents are beyond gentle support. We are back to the "deserving" and "undeserving poor" but it is kids who will suffer if we judge the parents...

You have to just cut off at some point and vouchers (that drug dealers won't accept...) for meals in holiday time seems sensible and humane to me.

Particularly at a time when the Government has furloughed millions of low income parents and millions more will lose jobs for no reason af all.

While MPs have at the same time awarded themselves a pay rise for their non stop and brave endeavours since March in holding an inept, self interested and panic stricken Government to account...

Wyot wrote:
Sadly you can't trust many of the parents to prioritise a limited income on food for their children, while I am sure at the same time that many decent poor parents genuinely struggle.

Social services can help some I am sure, but many drug and alcohol addicted parents are beyond gentle support. We are back to the "deserving" and "undeserving poor" but it is kids who will suffer if we judge the parents...

You have to just cut off at some point and vouchers (that drug dealers won't accept...) for meals in holiday time seems sensible and humane to me.

Particularly at a time when the Government has furloughed millions of low income parents and millions more will lose jobs for no reason af all.

While MPs have at the same time awarded themselves a pay rise for their non stop and brave endeavours since March in holding an inept, self interested and panic stricken Government to account...

Vouchers and stamps are great it works in USA. If you cant support yourself or your kids then you failed in life. Giving money to the unemployed should be means tested, just give money to carers, disabled, ex military only. DWP should give landlords the rent directly. Redundancy is awful and the people who are redundant should be giving priority to cash benefits, they are more likely to get back to work quicker than someone who has been on the dole for years and has no means to get a job.