UK minister warns toddlers face harm as lockdown prevents them playing with others

Announcement comes as the British government faces more criticism over its free school meal policy

Some toddlers have never played with a friend because of the UK's coronavirus lockdown.

Britain's loneliness minister issued a warning that the country's toddlers face generational harm because Covid-19 restrictions are preventing them from playing with friends.

Baroness Diana Barran said young children are suffering because of the pandemic, which resulted in a series of local and national lockdowns in the past 10 months.

Nurseries in England remain open but current restrictions mean play centres are closed. Visits to other people's homes outside of support bubbles are banned.

"I do worry about the children," Ms Barran told The Telegraph.

She said she spoke to a young mother who gave birth last year after the initial outbreak.

"And her young child had not played face-to-face with another child throughout the whole year for she had to be shielding. You've got a nearly one-year-old who has never played with another child," she said.

Ms Barran, 61, became the UK's loneliness minister in 2019 – a role created a year earlier to tackle soaring levels of isolation among Britain's ageing population.

However, young people have become an area of concern because lockdown has cut them off from others.

"It definitely is an issue for young people, in part perhaps because as you get older you become more able to cope with it," Ms Barran said.

She urged people to speak to neighbours, friends or family members who are alone to help alleviate the problem.

"Pick up the phone or write a card or a letter or send an email. Any one of those things will make a difference to somebody that day," she said.

The warning comes as the opposition Labour Party accused Education Secretary Gavin Williamson of allowing pupils to go hungry and letting parents down "time and time again".

There was public outcry last week when images were shared online that showed boxes for children containing only £5 ($7) worth of food intended to last a week.

The government is also facing criticism over guidance published on the Department for Education website that said schools did not need to provide food parcels or vouchers over the February half-term break.

Instead, it said families eligible for free school meals would be supported through the Covid Winter Grant Scheme run by local councils.

In Monday’s debate, Labour will urge MPs to vote to guarantee that children will receive the full value of free school meals.

"Gavin Williamson has created a catalogue of chaos on free school meals," shadow education secretary Kate Green said.

“Time and time again, he has let down the parents desperately trying to put food on the table and the children who have gone hungry through his incompetence.

“He must guarantee that children will get free school meals over the February half-term and put trust in parents by giving them the money for free school meals to ensure their children do not go hungry.

“Conservative MPs will have the opportunity to vote with Labour today to finally give families the support they need to get through this crisis.”

A government spokesman said: "As was the case over Christmas, vulnerable families will continue to receive meals and help with other essentials such as energy and bills over February half-term via councils through the £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme launched last year.

“Our guidance is clear: schools provide free school meals for eligible pupils during term time while children are learning. Beyond that, there is wider government support in place to support families and children via the billions of pounds in welfare support we’ve made available.”