MHK to query progress to reduce child hunger during summer holidays

What progress has been made to mitigate hunger suffered by children during the summer holidays?

That's the question on the lips of Garff MHK Daphne Caine, who'll pose the question in the House of Keys next week.

She'll ask Policy and Reform Minister Ray Harmer.

During lockdown, parents of children eligible for free school meals were given school meal vouchers to purchase food at Shoprite stores.

They were sent out fortnightly and had a value of £23 for primary school pupils and £29 for those in secondary schools.

The scheme was brought in as families struggled to pick up meals from schools due to self-isolation or travel restrictions.

Mrs Caine will also ask how successful the voucher scheme was during the period when schools were closed; and whether it will be continued through the summer holidays.

In March - Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse asked how it's decided who gets free school meals.