Caerphilly council will use its reserves to feed vulnerable children this summer after the Welsh Government confirms free school meals will not be extended across the school holidays. The scheme was introduced during the Covid pandemic to address "holiday hunger" and help families struggling during the cost of living crisis.
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the offer ran during May half term for the last time and will not be available for the upcoming long summer holiday or beyond. Under the scheme parents and carers whose children were eligible for free school meals were offered a range of options from vouchers, to food deliveries to money paid direct to them.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Extending free school meals into the holidays was a time-limited crisis intervention in response to the pandemic." However First Minister Mark Drakeford added it "does not mean there is not support".
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Meanwhile, Caerphilly council has announced it will use its reserves to feed vulnerable children over summer. During Tuesday's plenary, Caerphilly Labour MS Hefin David called for other councils to follow the local authority's example.
He said: "I think that Caerphilly council is to be congratulated for taking that, for using their reserves to do it, and other councils should be encouraged to do the same." Mr David also asked whether the Welsh government would consider funding the scheme across Wales, like it did last year. Mr Drakeford said the lack of free school meals "does not mean there is not support there for young people".
The Welsh government could extend the free school meals scheme into the Summer holidays previously, because of an "underspend" in the budget "which is part of the co-operation agreement" with Plaid Cymru, the first minister told the Senedd. He said while "there are no underspends left in that budget to deploy for that purpose", the government was "always involved in discussions" with Plaid Cymru to find the best way of using their available budget.
In an interview with BBC Wales Mr David previously said he understood that the Welsh government was struggling to find the budget for free school meals during the holidays. But he added: "I think it would be interesting for Plaid Cymru to re-look at the cooperation deal and say, is there any money in there that can be put towards additional support for the most vulnerable during school holidays?"
"I think it's important that children across Wales, particularly those most vulnerable, have that opportunity during those times when school isn't in session, which is 12 or 13 weeks a year, and I think that is in the gift in part at least of the co-operation agreement."
