Councils that want to use the new £170m COVID winter grant scheme to stop children going hungry during school holidays may need more cash, the Government has been told. The grant was widely viewed as a U-tum after high-profile lobbying by footballer Marcus Rashford to extend free school meals. However, the Department for Work and Pensions has refused to increase the funding despite hearing from councils directly that the £170m will not be enough. The department has said it is not trying to replicate the free school meals policy and the grant will be enough because not everyone who is entitled will need to take advantage of the scheme.
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