Breaking the cycle of child poverty has to be a priority for any responsible Government. The announcement that eligibility for free school meals is to be extended all children in households in receipt of Universal Credit is a big step forward. The decision by the previous Government to cut eligibility was wrong. We said so at the time and now we are putting that right.

From September next year more children will be eligible. It is difficult to say exactly how many as the number of households receiving universal credit varies over time, but as of the beginning of this year, in Tynemouth constituency, it would be 4130 school age children. This is in addition to the roll out of free breakfast clubs. It is estimated that the change will save parents nearly £500 per year per child.

I’ve heard the arguments over the years about parental responsibility to feed their own children. The reality is that many parents are still struggling to make ends meet despite their valiant efforts. But the issue is about more than that. It is the practical problem of children going hungry, finding it more difficult to learn and teacher’s jobs being all the more difficult. Put simply better fed children stand to learn better and behave better.

There is also the wider point that education needs to be, once again, the ladder of opportunity which stops any child’s circumstances or background holding them back.

So for anyone who asks where are the values behind the Government’s policies, I say here is an example of our values in action.