Flick has welcomed a £400 million government package, including almost £3 million for Hampshire County Council, to help support low income families and children.
English councils will receive £170 million to help support families with food and bills until March through the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.
The holiday food and activities programme will also be expanded to cover Easter, summer and Christmas in 2021 in what is an up to £210million investment.
Healthy Start payments, designed to help pregnant mothers and low incomes families with young children buy fresh fruit and vegetables, is set to rise from £3.10 to £4.25 a week from next April. Another £16 million will go to help food banks.
“This is a comprehensive package of support into the medium term that will allow a local response from councils to help families struggling due to the pandemic this winter and beyond,” said Flick.
“It is estimated it will help around 1.7 million children in England, including some in my constituency through the £2.89 million Hampshire grant, and I am very pleased the government has listened to concerns and responded in this way.
“I am particularly pleased ministers have moved away from a food voucher scheme, which was not really sustainable. The extension and substantial investment in the holiday food and activities programme is also to be commended because children in need of support will receive a meal and extra-curricular activities. This is certainly the best way to offer this type of support in the long-term.”
