The Scottish Government says it is committed to rolling out free school meals to poorer children, despite concerns being raised of a “funding gap”.
Ministers say they are still planning to expand free school meals to P6 and P7 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment within a year. However, a leaked paper suggests the Government is £24 million short of being able to do this.
In the SNP’s 2021 election manifesto, the party promised free school lunches for all primary school children all year round, which would involve expanding the existing policy to all children in P6 and P7. However, when Humza Yousaf became party leader last year, he said this could only be expanded to the poorest children because of financial constraints.
The Government has earmarked £43m in their budget for this.
However, Cosla, the umbrella organisation for Scotland’s 32 councils, says it could in fact cost up to £67m.
The Daily Record says a leaked paper shows Cosla has raised this “funding gap” with the Government, but it has yet to receive “full assurance” it will go ahead as planned from ministers for 2024/25 or 2025/26.
The paper added: “Officers believe a phased approach to implementation may be required, which could begin in February 2025 to be completed no earlier than August 2026.”
Labour MSP for Central Scotland Monica Lennon said the Government’s “brutal cuts” were putting free school meals “at risk”. She said: “Any further delay will be a betrayal of low income parents and their children.”
