The cost of school meals will rise in Renfrewshire for the first time in five years in a matter of weeks.
Prices will increase from £2.25 to £2.35 for children in primary six and seven and from £2.60 to £2.70 in high schools.
The change will kick in from Monday, April 17 having been agreed as part of the council’s recent budget.
Councillor Alison Ann-Dowling, Labour group finance spokesperson, said she felt the hike should have been debated at board level to “allow member scrutiny” at a meeting last Thursday.
While SNP convener John Shaw said he “appreciated the point” his counterpart was trying to make, he added process had been followed.
In a statement after the meeting, Councillor Ann-Dowling claimed she had been “shut down” as she tried to raise the matter during a period when “severe food poverty issues” are “affecting many families” in the area.
“Renfrewshire Labour objects on principle to any increase on school dinner charges at this time,” she added.
Pupils in primary one to five already receive free school meals as part of Scottish Government policy.
Elected members were told parents and carers would be contacted directly by the council to make them aware of the increase.
Schools will also continue to offer support to struggling families, including encouraging them to sign up to free school meals if they are eligible.
When contacted by the Express, a council spokesperson said: “The price of school meals has increased for the first time in five years due to rising costs of food and preparing
meals. The decision to allow school meal prices to be increased was taken as part of the council budget.
“All pupils in primary one to five receive free school meals as part of a national initiative by the Scottish Government.
“We encourage all parents and carers with children in primary six and seven and in high school to apply for free school meals if they are eligible.”
The Express was told in November by then Scottish Government education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville that universal free school meals would be expanded to primary six and seven “during the course of this
parliament”.
Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
