Unanimous support for Easter school meal vouchers

Tynwald approves additional help for low-income families

The families of children who receive free school meals will be given food vouchers over the Easter holidays.

Tynwald members unanimously approved Education Minister Julie Edge's motion at this morning's extraordinary sitting of the Manx parliament.

The scheme has been put in place to assist low-income families on the Island as rising gas and electricity prices put pressure on household budgets.

Two vouchers per child will be given, one for each week of the term break, which can be redeemed at Shoprite stores.

The value of the vouchers works out to £2.35 per day for qualifying primary aged children and £2.95 per day for students at secondary school or University College Isle of Man.

The vouchers will be sent out in the post and can be used to buy groceries - they can't be used for alcohol, lottery tickets, tobacco or exchanged for cash. 

Minister Edge also confirmed the Cabinet Office is working on a holiday hunger scheme to be brought in before the summer break.

While no member voted against the motion some MHKs had concerns about the need for and the effectiveness of the scheme.

'If a family needs free school meals during term time they also need it during a holiday period. I would go even further to say, why not Saturdays and Sundays?'

Douglas South MHK Claire Christian, who seconded the motion, says the need for the vouchers highlights a wider debate:

'I'm far from convinced that a voucher scheme is the right approach to address the underlying issues or the cause of holiday hunger.'

While in support of the Easter voucher scheme Douglas Central MHK Ann Corlett says a longer term solution should be explored:

'There remains a significant number of people who need support who will not benefit from this.'

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse asked if discussions could be had with the Isle of Man Foodbank, and other charities, to assess the scale of the problem on the Island.

Meanwhile Rushen MHK Dr Michelle Haywood said she's concerned an expected peak in Covid in the coming weeks would keep more children out of school and 'condemn them to another day without a decent meal'.

Minister Edge responded to the concerns:

Tomorrow is the final day of term - the Easter school meal vouchers cover the fortnight up to 22 April.

The Isle of Man Government says 2,113 school children are eligible for free school meals - 1,138 primary and 975 secondary and UCM pupils.