CASH transfers should be given to Scotland’s poorest families to help them cope during the school holidays, a poverty commission has recommended.

A report from the Poverty and Inequality Commission highlighted low income families face a number of pressures during holiday periods, ranging from food insecurity to a lack of opportunities for play and activities, social isolation, and parenting challenges.

It noted that during the school holidays a number of key supports for children and families are not provided – such as free school

meals, breakfast clubs, after school clubs, after school activities and guidance and pastoral support within school.

In Glasgow, in February, City Treasurer Allan Gow, announced that the city council would be setting aside £2million to address ‘holiday hunger’.

Council leader Susan Aitken said that crisis aid would be delivered by churches and housing associations because those bodies ‘ best know and understand local needs. ‘

An evaluation found more than 14,500 children were fed during the seven-week, school summer holidays, serving 131,508 while around 6000 children benefited over the October break.

The Poverty and Inequality Commission has said that direct cash transfers would provide the most “dignified” way to lessen the financial pressures on families, and recommended the amount should be set at a level that at least matches the equivalent costs of school meals.

Douglas Hamilton, Poverty and Inequality Commission chair, said: “School holidays make up a quarter of the year, so it is no surprise that they can create significant pressures for Scotland’s poorest families around finances, food, opportunities for play, social isolation and parenting.

“The holidays bring additional costs and challenges to already hard-pressed families, particularly over the six-week summer break and at Christmas.

“Free school meals are seen as a vital benefit for the rest of the year but are, in effect, withdrawn during school holidays at a time when families face the most financial pressures.

“The Commission believes that money is the most dignified way to respond to food insecurity, offering families choice in how to meet their needs.”

Previous research has found that during the holidays children from low-income families school holidays can miss out on opportunities available to children in higher income families.