Tynwald will today be asked to support a move to issue vouchers to the parents of children who get free school meals.

Education, Sport and Culture Minister Dr Alex Allinson will move that his department would issue fortnightly vouchers to all recipients of free school meals throughout the summer holiday.

Traditionally, the summer holidays see an increase in the number of families using the Food Bank as they seek to ensure their children don’t miss out on meals usually provided throughout the school term.

Starting from July 27, the DESC will issue vouchers worth £23 and £29 for primary and secondary school students respectively, these will be redeemable at some chain stores across the island and cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets or non-food products.

In the motion, the DESC said: ’Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer.

’To alleviate this the department wishes to continue to provide food vouchers covering the six-week holiday period.

’This is a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic and the scheme will not continue beyond the summer. When children return to school in September, meals will be provided by the school meals services, and those eligible will be those who already qualify for free school meals.’

Over the six week period of the holidays, the total cost to provide the vouchers would be £136,577, a cost which has been agreed by the Treasury.

Vouchers will be issued to students who are registered with the DESC for free school meals this Friday, July 24 and who are registered to attend a primary or secondary school on the island.