Gateshead councillors believe a Government cash injection of more than £3m to protect the most vulnerable does not go far enough as parents struggle to buy baby milk formula.
The £3,670,000 comes from the Department of Work and Pensions 'Household Support Fund'. The fund was set up in 2021 to help tackle food and fuel poverty.
Gateshead councillors expressed concern with the funding as the cost of living crisis continues to spiral and baby milk prices continue to rise. According to Sky News, even the cheapest brands of baby milk formula have risen by 45% in the past two years.
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The deputy leader of the council Catherine Donovan said: "Before it was raised in the media this is something we heard about on the ground.
"It is very dangerous, in the long term this is going to be bad for the health of our children. The baby milk formula contains everything a baby needs, without that, particularly with calcium, children can develop problems with their teeth and bones.
"It's an absolute outrage that people cannot afford formula milk, we used to have staff who would go out and get baby milk with vouchers, that doesn't happen now.
"We really are building up problems for the future.
"It is not good enough for the Government to say 'we understand' or 'we are doing all we can'. People will be, without quick action, slipping through the net, people are afraid to say they cannot feed their children.
"We deliberately put aside an amount of money that would hopefully help, but I am not sure that we are going to be meeting the need out there."
Martin Gannon, leader of the council, went on to say that he "couldn't believe" people could not buy formula in 2023. For the first time, residents can apply directly to the council for financial support from the 'Household Support Fund'.
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