What I would say is that is an arguement for normal times.
The shit is well and truly going to hit the fan in the UK. Covid and Brexit mean through no fault of their own numerous people (millions) are going to be fucked over. In such a situation the government has an obligation to protect the most vulnerable.
Over the next few months I fully expect price of food to go up, mass unemployment, increased crime, people losing their home, civil disobedience and real anger.
Things like school meals are not simply unemployed parents, but those on low incomes, or those with disabilities or those not eligible for benefits (like adult students). All those on 0 hour contracts may find one week they have enough money, the next not enough to feed their kids.
I somewhat agree that there should be no need for school meals. But UK government through various policies has created an environment where such a sticky plaster is required. A solution is required today but long term real social change is required.
Comes down to the age old adage. Give a man a fish and heâs fed for a day. Teach him to fish and heâs fed for the rest of his life.
Itâs not a one off, Iâve heard this several times from several schools. When vouchers were issued during previous holidays for kids meals, several parents kicked off because cash wasnât on offer. One school offered to keep the kitchen running over Easter, wasnât taken up by any parents in a school with about 20% FSM. Thatâs 40 kids. But do blame the government, all their fault.
Iâd employ all the hospitality venues currently closed to do meals on wheels.
Nor is it the childrenâs.
Correct. Itâs a horrific situation that any child (or adult) in this country goes hungry. The floor level should be food, warmth, shelter and a friendly smile. There are ways that will ensure this that the government could adopt. However they wonât as the backlash would be massive.
Free social housing, free utilities, free food vouchers. Done.
Want more? We all know how to get it and that isnât by taking things from others.
Take that one to another level. Why should the state/social services intervene when parents neglect and abuse children, its not the governmentâs fault.
Itâs the governments role to protect the vulnerable regardless of whoâs fault it is. Blame, punishment and rectification of the cause come second. The government are elected by the whole population to ensure the wellbeing of every single person, its not supposed to be only for those who are upwardly mobile.
Might be wrong, but I believe under the international human rights/human rights act. The government does have a responsibility to ensure everyone has access to food.
Food in itself is a human right, but itâs also one that has knock on consequences to other human rights. Like government responsibility to ensure health, or prevent discrimination.
Regardless of all that, it probably makes economical sense to feed kids healthy well rounded meals.
The benefits of a good diet would easily pay themselves off over a medium time frame, surely.
Not in the UK. You need a rod licence (ÂŁ27 annually) and the vast majority of water courses in the UK require you to return any fish caught.
Iâm really reluctant to listen to arguments against state aid for struggling families on the basis of anecdotes and âmy mate saidâ stories. Of course any benefit or welfare scheme is going to have to put up with a few people taking the piss. You canât allow a small number of pricks to taint the justification of something that benefits thousands. We all know someone who takes the piss.
On the Government point, the level of poverty, whichever indicator to choose to gauge it on, is a result of Government policy decisions down the line. You canât escape that ultimately, whether the cause is lack of jobs, failing education, teenage pregnancy, spiralling rent and house prices, addiction, or whatever, the buck stops at number ten.
Touches on a bug bear of mine. IMO the food industry really needs a close look at. Along similar lines to the smoking industry.
The crack they have and continue to farm out as âhealthyâ is a massive problem. Plus thereâs stuff that you really have to question what itâs doing on the shelves in the first place.
Thats not entirely true. Quality fresh and healthy ingrediants arenât more expensive but they do require more effort and time to prepare them. Just look at Jamie Olivers School Meals to see that fresh cooked can be done especially in bulk at a cheap enough rate to make it comparable to frozen crap.
It is all about cooking smart
The harsh reality is far too many kids live in poverty
Yes it does. What happens in the country ultimately stops at No. 10. Blowing billions on HS2, selling the gold, building hospitals and schools that get mothballed. All waste and criminal mismanagement and all governments do it. Iâve just gone through all of Yes Minister and Yes Primeminister which according to my aunt who was an MP is frighteningly accurate.
As mentioned above, give the parents of vulnerable children the means to feed them if they need those means. Itâs really quite simple.
As for your fishing post, what size would you like your pedant hat?
What about the ÂŁ50+m that Boris bombed on his garden bridge?
ÂŁ12billion on track and trace
ÂŁXXm on a PPE contract with the Turkish version of Derek Trotter.
Consultants on ÂŁ7k a day!!!
The list is a long one.
Is frozen fruit and veg not as healthy as fresh,maybe even healthier than the fresh stuff sitting on a shelf for a day or 2
Whichever way you look at it, it is a fucking abomination that in a country this wealthy kids are going hungry.
Very. And in the words of Terry Pratchett, there will be a reckoning.
Growing up in my area during the 70s/80s butter vouchers were widely used for such things as cigarettes and readily accepted by the local shop,so how do you ensure,even if governments provide necessary resources/money,that children will be looked after as expected.Should something better be put in place where we know the kids and vulnerable adults are actually getting what the government and society as a whole feels is needed.
I dunno, mate. Horribly complex questions, thatâs for sure.
Thereâs only one answer, butâŚfeed the bloody kids and squabble about it later.
Seen from the outside, with no background knowledge, it now comes across (in the media) as if the UK cannot afford to feed its children in need. I doubt that this picture is intentional, but itâs really embarrassing.