The school meals scandal took a further twist today as footballer and campaigner Marcus Rashford called for an urgent review of the government s policy.
Man United star Rashford said in an open letter to No 10 signed by 40 NGOs, charities, education bodies and celebrity chefs, the system needed looking at again.
It came after an incident-filled week that saw one school meals provider s fare branded appalling after one of its hampers went viral.
In the letter to the Prime Minister, Rashford welcomed the robustness of his response to the inadequate meal parcels being provided by some private companies.
But the letter said that after a series of problems - including over vouchers and the holiday provision of meals - had arisen during the pandemic, it was the right time to step back and review the policy in more depth .
Meal scheme will switch for half-term
The free meal system for school pupils will change over the February half term – as the government tries to balance its books by using a different department’s funding for the food.
In a switchover that has the potential to spark some administration issues, meals for those that need it will continue, but paid for from a different area.
Currently the Department for Education are in charge of providing cash for school meals during the coronavirus outbreak in term-times.
But when half term arrives something called the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, which comes from the DWP, will supply the money. It has £170m of funds.
The under-fire schools food provider has apologised and vowed to raise standards after parents railed against the paltry lunches it was sending their children.