Pictures of food packages, shared on social media sites by parents who claimed they had been provided by catering company Chartwells, were widely criticised over “mean portions” .
Children eligible for free school meals scheme are entitled to food worth £30 per week or the equivalent in supermarket vouchers while schools are closed, however, parcels appeared to include as little as a loaf of bread, some cheese, a tin of beans, two carrots, two bananas, three apples, two potatoes, a bag of pasta, three Frubes, two Soreen bars and a tomato.
Speaking to the Education Select Committee today (13 January), Williamson said: “When I saw that picture, I was absolutely disgusted. As a dad myself I just thought, how could a family in receipt of that really be expected to deliver five nutritious meals as is required? It’s just not acceptable.”
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