Inquiry launched into ‘holiday hunger’

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger today launches a short inquiry into the extent of hunger amongst children during the school holidays, as well as the impact it has on their life chances.

The terms of reference for the inquiry are:

1. To understand the extent and geographical spread of hunger amongst children during school holidays.

2. To investigate the underlying causes of hunger amongst children during school holidays.

3. To identify the circumstances behind hunger amongst children during school holidays.

4. To understand the extent, cost, nature and organisation of school holiday meal schemes in this country.

5. To discover the food choices and other forms of support available to children and families helped by school holiday meal schemes.

6. To investigate the source of school holiday meal schemes’ food.

7. To consider the effectiveness of school holiday meal schemes in meeting immediate and long-term needs, and the possibility of these schemes becoming permanent features of children and young people’s services.

8. To consider the long-term effects of school holiday meal schemes on children’s health, physical development, and educational achievement.

9. To consider approaches to improving children’s food intake and physical and mental development during the school holidays.

10. To make recommendations.

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