Hartlepool MP joins in Marcus Rashford food parcels debate calling contents an 'insult'

The Manchester United star and food poverty campaigner shared photos on social media showing poor quality and low value packages sent to families during the lockdown.

Downing Street has said the contents of some food parcels are “completely unacceptable” and the Government is urgently looking into the issue.

It comes after one mum posted a picture on Twitter of a parcel said to be from education food service company Chartwells showing about £5 worth of food to last ten days.

Hartlepool MP Mike Hill said Chartwells also supply parcels to families in the town.

He said: “The food parcels which have been arranged by the Government in place of free school meal vouchers are completely inadequate.

"In many cases, the amount of food in them wouldn’t cover a day for one family let alone a week and the demoralising effect of this on families will be profound.

"It is hard to ask for help in the first place, but to ask for help and receive an insult like this is a difficult pain to bear.”

Related article: Calls for Hartlepool families to get help with electric bills while homeschooling

He said it was the Government’s second failure on free school meals after Conservative MPs voted against attempts to extend the free school meal scheme in October.

But Prime Minister Boris Johnson bowed to pressure committing £170 million of extra funding to support families over Christmas and extend the scheme for this Easter, summer and Christmas breaks.

Mr Hill added: “Now we see what the Government’s private contractors think children can survive on. A loaf of bread, three cheese singles wrapped in cling film and a yoghurt.

"It is despicable.”

Chartwells said it is fully investigating the images circulating on social media, but believes many of them are not its hampers.

A spokesperson said: “We take our responsibility to provide children with access to nutritious food very seriously.

“We have worked hard to produce food hampers at incredibly short notice during these challenging times.

“Our hampers follow the DfE specifications and contain a variety of ingredients to support families in providing meals throughout the week.

"In the majority of instances, we have received positive feedback.”

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