An overdue SNP manifesto pledge to provide free school meals to every primary school pupil has been delayed again by more than two years.
John Swinney, the finance secretary, said P6 and P7 pupils were not expected to get free meals until August 2024.
The education and skills resource budget has been cut by almost 1 per cent in real terms, from more than £2.95 billion this year to less than £2.93 billion next year, an effective cut of about £25 million.
The budget is expected to be restored to £2.96 billion in real terms in 2023-24.
In September last year, the SNP committed to providing free school lunches to all primary schoolchildren “including provision in the school holidays for those who need it most”.
