THE Scottish Government will face a vote on expanding free school meals to all primary school pupils on Wednesday afternoon.
John Swinney previously said he would not be able to fulfil the pledge for a “universal” rollout of the benefit and that it would expand it only to P6 and P7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.
The position is to be challenged in a debate led by the Scottish Tories – here’s everything you need to know.
When is the debate and how can I watch?
Parliamentary business will begin around 2pm this afternoon. Prior to the Scottish Conservative-led debate, there are portfolio questions on rural affairs, land reform and the NHS.
The debate is scheduled to take place after this meaning it’s likely it will begin at some point between 2.30 and 3pm.
It will be available to watch on Scottish Parliament TV, which can be found HERE.
What have other parties said?
The Scottish Government is not obliged to take action on the results of the motion put forward by the Scottish Tories.
Put forward by Liam Kerr (below), it reads: “That the parliament believes that free school lunches should be provided for all primary school children, including provision in the school holidays, in this parliamentary session, as promised by the Scottish Government.”
The Scottish Government said it would not be able to keep this commitment in its latest Programme for Government due to “prolonged Westminster austerity and record high inflation”.
Opposition parties are expected to vote in favour of the motion, with the Scottish Greens labelling the Scottish Government’s decision as a “shameful U-turn”.
“No child should be forced to go hungry, and free school meals are crucial to ensuring there is no stigma for the families who need support the most,” MSP Ross Greer said.
Amendments
Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has proposed an amendment to the motion so that it would note the “impact of the austerity agenda pursued by the previous Conservative and current Labour UK administrations”.
Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy meanwhile has proposed an amendment which asks the motion to note that it “regrets the SNP administration’s repeated broken promises to Scotland’s children and young people”.
