The MP for Washington and Sunderland West has called on the government to commission research into child holiday hunger and to create resources and training for providers of holiday provision.
Hodgson wrote: “As chair of the APPG on School Food, child holiday hunger has been an area I have championed for a number of years now. But, sadly, I have been met with the argument that once the school gates lock for the school holidays, it is none of our business about how a child eats, or doesn’t in some cases.”
The Labour MP cites research by SCHOOLS NorthEast, which finds that 14% of children in England rely upon a free school meal during term time, rising to 18% in the North East. However, many of these children will not have access to healthy food over the holidays.