{"id":51123,"date":"2021-02-23T17:09:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T17:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=51123"},"modified":"2021-02-23T20:33:32","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T20:33:32","slug":"free-school-meals-senedd-debate-follows-open-letter-from-campaigners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2021\/02\/23\/free-school-meals-senedd-debate-follows-open-letter-from-campaigners\/","title":{"rendered":"Free school meals: Senedd debate follows open letter from campaigners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cFeeding hungry children is bigger than party politics\u201d says letter as push for policy change continues<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A PROPOSAL to extend free school meal provision in Wales is to be debated in the Senedd tomorrow, after an open letter appealing to politicians was published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal, put forward by Plaid Cymru MS Si\u00e2n Gwenllian, calls on the Welsh Government to use unallocated funds in its 2021-2022 budget to provide free school meals (FSMs) for all children of families on universal credit or equivalent benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also says the policy should also apply to any child in a family affected by the controversial \u201cno recourse to public funds\u201d policy, which prohibits people from accessing benefits based on their immigration status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An open letter<\/strong><\/a> to Senedd members was published on Saturday by the local action group behind the campaign, People\u2019s Assembly Against Austerity Wales (PAAAW).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow can it be right that a child growing up in poverty is less likely to get a free school meal in Wales than in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland?\u201d the letter asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter goes on to dismiss comments<\/a> <\/strong>by Welsh Labour MS Hefin David that previous debates on the issue were \u201celectioneering\u201d by Plaid Cymru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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