Time to give Councils Cash to deliver Free School Meals Promise

Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP has called on the Scottish Government to fully fund free school meals for all primary school kids ahead of a tomorrow’s Scottish budget debate.

The Scottish Government pledged to fund free school meals for all primary school pupils in 2021 but to date have failed to put in place the required funding for local authorities. 

Alba’s Regan fears that if the Scottish Government do not step in to fund free school meals as promised then it will lead to further cost hikes this year which will result in more children going hungry. 

Ms Regan has also called on the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week, noting that "when he stood to be SNP leader Humza Yousaf pledged that he would increase the payment to £30 a week but the draft budget published ahead of tomorrows date only placed an inflationary increase on top of the current £25 weekly payment”.

Commenting Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP said: 

“Last year I campaigned for School Meal debt to be scrapped and thankfully this was delivered. But there is no point in cancelling that debt if the Scottish Government sit back and look on as local Council’s slap further hikes to the cost of a school meal. Across Scotland there is a postcode lottery in the cost of meals and how fast the cost to parents is rising.

“The Scottish Government must use this year’s budget to finally put in place the support to fund the full roll out of free school meals for all primary school children. 

“Of course, we know the cost of the school day only gets more expensive as children go to high school so extending the policy further must be an aspiration within the life of this Parliament - but for now it’s time for the promise of free school meals for primary school children to be delivered."