The Scottish Government has been accused of failing children by watering down plans for free school meals and leaving thousands hungry over Christmas.
Despite pledging to bring in free school meals for all P6 and P7s, ministers backtracked this week by announcing it would initially be for those who get benefits only. In Thursday’s Budget, Deputy First Minister John Swinney also confirmed a two-year delay to the universal rollout, setting a new target of 2024.
He confirmed there would be “free school meals for all Primary Six and Seven pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment”, which campaigners said defeats the aim of universal free meals as it will stigmatise children receiving them if it is means-tested. He also failed to announce when a pilot for secondary schools will begin, despite previous government pledges.
The changes have been blasted as “sneaky and dishonest” by opponents, with campaigners also accusing the government of leaving children to go hungry over the Christmas holidays. Despite pledging £22million for holiday food schemes next year, the STUC said it did nothing to help those who will be facing food shortages in the days and weeks ahead.
The trade union body has now written to Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, warning her that thousands of children will face a cold and hungry festive season, and said the government was “acting like Scrooge”.
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STUC Women’s Committee leader Andrea Bradley said: “Hunger does not take a holiday. “Families across Scotland are now fearing the school holidays with real anxiety on how they’re going to put food on the table as winter bites.
“The Scottish Government know child hunger is a real problem and have pledged £22million for holiday hunger programmes next year, but this is cold comfort for those going hungry here and now. The Scottish Government could have given support – instead, they’ve acted like Scrooge.”
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, about a quarter of families with children have had to cut back on essentials such as food or childcare due to the cost of living crisis, while Children in Scotland warned that 250,000 children could be going to school too hungry to learn. The Sunday Mail has been campaigning for free school meals for all children in a move which has attracted the support of Scotland captain and Liverpool star Andy Robertson.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has backed our campaign, said: “We are only learning of these major changes to free school meals policy by chance. It’s sneaky, and unacceptable that the Scottish Government is watering down plans to roll out free school meals, at a time when children need them most.
"Whether it’s a school day or Christmas Day, no child in wealthy Scotland should be going hungry. The SNP, aided by the Scottish Greens, keep moving the goal posts to distract from their broken promises on universal free school meals. Ministers are failing children.
“What started off as dithering over kitchen equipment and dinner halls now looks like dishonesty. Children in Primary Six and Seven were promised access to free school meals without stigmatising means testing.”
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the current scheme was “the most generous universal provision of anywhere in the UK”.
She said that councils were already given funding to “ensure school meals support during holidays for families who need it most” and added: “Our additional investment announced will continue to fund the expansion of free school meals for all Primary Six and Seven pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, helping children who need it most first.
“This will be the next step in fulfilling our commitment to universal provision in primary schools.”
She said there would be a pilot of universal free school meals “over the course of this Parliament” and said the government would work with councils that “have indicated that they face challenges in planning for the substantial expansion of free school meals.”
Somerville said: “We support families in a variety of ways, including free child care, free bus travel for under-22s, free school meals to around 145,000 pupils, Bridging Payments, and the Child Winter Heating Assistance.”
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