Member

The holiday activities and food programme currently gets only temporary funding and, although it is welcome that the Government have extended the programme for the 2025-26 financial year, after much campaigning by the providers and child poverty and nutrition groups, what happens after that? All the providers, local authorities and charities will have to start campaigning all over again. I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott, as the chairman of Feeding Britain—I was an original trustee when it was set up by Frank Field—as well as to the charity for putting in so much work, and of course to others who have made a massive difference in this area. This is a crucial scheme, which helps ease food insecurity and boosts nutrition during the school holidays. It should be put on the statute book so we know that the children who need it will keep getting fed.