SNP free school meals plan for poorer kids in 'disarray' over funding black hole
27.02.2024 - 05:15
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
The SNP Government rollout of free school meals for poorer children is in “disarray” over a £14m funding black hole row.
A leaked paper also reveals the plan for hungry kids may not be delivered by the next Holyrood election. Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “Brutal cuts imposed on councils by ministers are putting the overdue expansion of free school meals at risk.
“Any further delay will be a betrayal of low income parents and their children.”
The SNP promised free lunches for every primary school pupil all year round in their 2021 Holyrood manifesto. This meant rolling out a policy already in place for younger pupils to every child in primary six and seven.
But when Humza Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon he delayed the policy after citing financial constraints. He said free school meals in primary six and seven would be targeted at the poorest children who receive the Scottish Child Payment (SCP).
A paper produced by council umbrella group COSLA shows this more modest policy is also in trouble. It claimed the Government earmarked £43m in capital funding for the rollout, but warned an analysis shows the total bill is £67m.
COSLA wrote that the “funding gap” has been raised with the Government: "At this stage officials have not yet been able to provide full assurance that this funding will be forthcoming, and whether this will be found in 2024/25 or 2025/26.”
The paper is also sceptical the expansion will be completed ahead of the Holyrood election in May 2026: “Officers believe a phased approach to implementation may be required, which could begin in February 2025 to be completed no earlier than August 2026.”
The paper also raised the prospect of a postcode lottery where some councils offer disadvantaged children free
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