THE fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has led to unprecedented amounts of money being handed out by the Government.

On top of the furlough scheme, which is estimated to cost a staggering £14 billion per month, millions more has been handed out to help save jobs in areas affected by local lockdowns.

Indeed, just yesterday Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced businesses in Barrow could receive a grant of more than £2,000 a month to help them deal with the impact of Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions.

And the Government also dished out £550,000 to Barrow council.

The money comes as part of a £900 million government package that promises to help ease the financial burden on councils during the coronavirus crisis.

But criticism has been levelled at MPs after voting down proposals to provide free schools meals to some of the most vulnerable children.

A campaign started by footballer Marcus Rashford urged politicians to give lunch to children during half-term holidays. Barrow council recently declared a poverty emergency. The number of children in low-income families in Barrow is more than 3,500.

Barrow MP Simon Fell said approving the plan would have costed around £20m a week.

Surely that’s a price worth paying?