Campaigners claim minister attempting to undermine 'Holiday Hunger Bill'

As it is based on school meals, the cost of the scheme would be on the Department of Education.

It is modelled on the School Holiday Food Grant scheme introduced during the pandemic, which paid qualifying families £27 per child every fortnight.

In April, Givan warned MLAs that his department did not have funding for the scheme, so they would be voting to cut education spending if they supported it.

He has now proposed amendments which would give him discretion to decide when the payments would take effect.

A coalition of campaign groups, including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and Save the Children, say the amendments would mean "no guarantees about when, if ever, payments might begin".

They added: "We are calling on all political parties and all MLAs to reject the amendments tabled by the education minister and support the bill as it currently stands."