Humza Yousaf has refused to guarantee the roll out of free school meals for all primary school children will take place within the next three years. The First Minister instead committed his Government to extending the policy without offering a timescale.
Free school meals are available to all pupils between P1 and P5 and the Government previously said the older cohort would also benefit by the end of this Parliament. However, with Holyrood facing a £1bn budget black hole, tough decisions are being examined and the original rollout is at risk.
As revealed by the Record, a leaked local government paper warned that the policy may only be delivered after the next Holyrood election. Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has campaigned on universal free school meals, quizzed the First Minister on the latest delay.
He replied: “I'm very proud of the progress that the SNP-led Scottish Government has made in the universal roll out of free school meals for P1 to P5. Maybe a lesson for other political parties across the UK to look towards Scotland to see what we have done."
He added: “We are absolutely committed to the rollout of universal free school meals in primary schools. As we have said previously, the next phase will be to all primary six and seven pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.
"That's the next phase of that universal expansion. We're also committed to delivering the pilot of the universal school meals in secondary schools.”
Lennon countered: “Will the Scottish Government keep its promise to Scotland's children, and can the First Minister guarantee that the roll out will be delivered by the end of this Parliament.”
Yousaf said: “There are challenges in relation to the rollout. We know there are challenges around, for example, the capital infrastructure that is required.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
