Rishi Sunak has been accused of a "dereliction of duty" after dismissing a plan to end food poverty UK.
The Chancellor was asked by Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne to use the power of the Treasury to introduce a "right to food" during the spring statement this afternoon.
The proposal would see universal free school meals, funding for community kitchens and a new regulatory body that would hold the Government to account through oversight and enforcement powers.
Mr Byrne said: "With millions having to choose to starve or freeze in their homes because of the cost of living crisis when will the penny drop with the Chancellor that hunger is a political choice and it's he who controls the levers to eradicate it.
Read more: Rishi Sunak's key Spring Statement announcements
"Does the Chancellor agree that it's a dereliction of his duty to the security of every household we all serve not to enshrine access to food for all in UK law."
Mr Sunak responded: "We have invested over £200million a year in the holiday, activity and food programme to provide both food and enriching activities to hundreds of thousands of children across the country."
The dismissal came as Mr Sunak's mini-Budget was roundly criticised by economic analysts and opposition MPs for not going far enough.
On a day when the annual inflation rate rose to 6.2%, Mr Sunak announced that the threshold at which workers start paying national insurance will increase by £3,000 a year and announced a future 1p reduction in income tax to offset the impact of across-the-board price increases.
Despite the measures, independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned that households would still see a dramatic fall in their living standards this year.
Outlining his mini-Budget, Mr Sunak said: "This statement puts billions back into the pockets of people across the UK and delivers the biggest net cut to personal taxes in over a quarter of a century.
“Like our actions against Russia, I have been able to do this because of our strong economy and the difficult but responsible decisions I have had to make to rebuild our finances following the pandemic.
“Cutting taxes means people have immediate help with the rising cost of living, businesses have better conditions to invest and grow tomorrow, and people keep more of what they earn for years to come.”
But Labour said Mr Sunak had "failed to appreciate the scale of the challenge we face".
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "Inflation at its highest level for 30 years – and rising. Energy prices at record highs. People are worried sick.
"For all his words, it is clear the Chancellor doesn’t get the scale of the challenge.
"He talks about providing security for working families. But his choices are making the cost of living crisis worse - not better."
