Milton Keynes' Conservative MPs defend their votes against giving children free school meals over the holidays

On Wednesday evening (October 21), MPs rejected Labour's motion to provide free school meals over the winter school holidays until Easter 2021 by 322 votes to 261.

Ben Everitt, MK North MP, and Iain Stewart, MK South MP, were two of those who voted against the motion.

In terms of deprivation, Milton Keynes North currently ranks at 350th place out of 533 places in the south east, with 533rd place being least deprived and one being the most deprived.

Using the same metric, Milton Keynes South sits in 281st place out of 533, according to the government's index of deprived areas.

And, according to new research by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, 9,226 children in Milton Keynes North (31 per cent) were in poverty in 2018/2019, and 9,717 children were in poverty in Milton Keynes South (30 per cent) in 2018/2019.

The MPs today (Thursday, October 22) explained their reasoning behind their votes.

Mr Everitt started by saying the Conservative government had extended free school meal eligibility and that they already extended the scheme to the 2020 summer holidays as children hadn’t been in school since March.

The MP said 99 per cent of children are now back in school and those eligible will be receiving free school meals - this scheme provided free school meals for 1.4 million pupils and saw more than £380 million worth of voucher codes redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families.

Mr Everitt went on to say: “I know many families are going through tough times at the moment and that’s why our welfare system is so vital in offering support to those most in need and that’s why Universal Credit has increased by £1,000 for families this year."

The MK North MP said the welfare system is how 'we should be supporting low-income families rather than free school meals during the school holidays'.

He said: "The government has put £9 billion extra into the welfare system to support families in need during the pandemic and it has today provided MK Council almost £5 million in funding to help protect public health, local vulnerable people and the running of vital services.”

MK South MP Iain Stewart said: “This government has continuously looked after pupils and vulnerable children by providing £9.3 billion extra to help those most in need during this pandemic.

“The best way to support families outside of term time is through Universal Credit and not by subsidising meals. If any of my constituents are having trouble with Universal Credit, please contact my office and I will try my best to help.”

A parliamentary spokesperson said, on behalf of Mr Everitt and Mr Stewart, that £5 million of unringfenced funding has been given to MK Council as part of the government's £1 billion scheme to 'support local communities, families, and services across the city through this difficult time'.

Issues with Universal Credit, according to Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)

According to the early warning system report published by CPAG which looked at emerging issues of Universal Credit in July and August 2020, the problems that were highlighted said that:

Workers continue to be disadvantaged by the way Universal Credit calculates their income depending on when they are paid

Many Universal Credit claimants are being over or underpaid, with Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) error and real time reporting of earnings being two of the contributing factors

A number of tax credits claimants were misadvised by DWP to claim Universal Credit when their income dropped due to Covid, leaving them worse off in the long term

Many ill and disabled people are not receiving additional amounts they should due to the lack of work capability assessments being carried out

Some migrants are experiencing financial hardship because they have no or reduced entitlement to benefits

Covid-19 impact on Universal Credit

Also according to CPAG's Universal Credit early warning system report, the issues faced by Universal Credit claimants during the pandemic said that CPAG is seeing:

A number of tax credits claimants who have migrated to Universal Credit prematurely and finding themselves worse off as a result

Lack of work capability assessments leading to contributory ESA ending before an assessment has been carried out

Ill and disabled people not receiving additional amounts in their benefits because a work capability assessment has not been carried out

To read CPAG's latest findings, click here.

Milton Keynes' Conservative MPs vote against free school meals for children over winter period