Stop private firms profiteering from hungry children

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Instead of the £30 voucher many parents were receiving before, they are now being sent boxes that barely contain £5 worth of food. This is nowhere near enough food to last for the school week. The contract should be taken away from these private firms and parents should be given the £30 instead.

With schools closed, thousands of hungry children across Britain who usually get free school meals need other food to see them through the week. The government is paying private caterers Chartwells to provide this, but now it has come to light that their 'meal boxes' are painfully inadequate. The government should provide the £30 in vouchers to the parents so they can use them at the local supermarkets to buy sufficient food for their children.

Why it was rejected

The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.

The national voucher scheme to provide meals to children eligible for free school meals during lockdown reopened on Monday 18th January. Schools are able to claim back support provided through lunch parcels or locally arranged vouchers since 4th January from the Department for Education.

See:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools#national-voucher-scheme

You might like to sign the following petitions:

Replace the supply of children's food parcels contract with a cash payment.
Replace the supply of children's food parcels contract with a cash payment.

Only close schools in lockdown if free school meals vouchers are available
Make free school meals vouchers available as soon as schools close in lockdowns

Timeline

13 Jan 2021	Petition opened for signatures
21 Jan 2021	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 21 Jan 2021

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