Watch again: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer at PMQs in the House of Commons

The Government’s U-turn on free school meals during the summer holidays was a key focus at Prime Minister’s Questions today.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he welcomed the Government's U-turn on free school meals but that it is "just one step" to reducing child poverty.

He told MPs: "A report last week from the Government's social mobility commission concluded that there are now 600,000 more children living in relative poverty than in 2012.

"The report went on to say child poverty rates are projected to increase to 5.2 million by 2022. What does the Prime Minister think caused that?"

Mr Johnson replied: "I can tell him that on free school meals this Government is very proud that we set up universal free school meals and I'm very pleased that we are going to be able to deliver a Covid summer food package to some of the poorest families in this country, and that is exactly the right thing to do.

"But I must say that he is completely wrong in what he says about poverty. Absolute poverty, relative poverty, have both declined under this Government.

"There are hundreds of thousands, I think 400,000, fewer families living in poverty now than there were in 2010."

Boris Johnson urged Sir Keir Starmer to encourage people to send their children back to school as it is safe.

Sir Keir said: "The Prime Minister says poverty has not increased. I just read a direct quote from a Government report from a Government commission produced last week which says it has gone up by 600,000."

Sir Keir added: "The social mobility commission has a clear answer to my question - this anticipated rise in child poverty is not driven by forces beyond our control.

"I'm sure the Prime Minister would agree that an even higher child poverty rate would be an intolerable outcome from this pandemic, so what is he going to do to prevent it?"

Mr Johnson said: "What we're talking about is what has actually happened, which is a reduction in poverty."

Mr Johnson added that one of the best ways to help the poorest children in the country "would be to encourage all kids who can go back to school to go back to school now because their schools are safe".

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