BUDGET: Greens put free school meals at heart of demands
This year’s Scottish Government budget must include free school meals for thousands more children, says Scottish Green Co-leader Ross Greer.
Scottish Green MSPs previously secured the expansion of universal free school meals to P4 and P5 pupils across Scotland, as well as the ongoing expansion to P6 and P7 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment (SCP).
In budget negotiations last year the party also secured a pilot programme of free school meals for thousands of S1-3 pupils whose families receive SCP in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles.
The Greens want this rollout to be expanded across Scotland, as well as funding to provide the extra kitchen facilities needed for universal free school meal provision in P6-7.
The party has pointed to the money previously allocated to mitigate against the Tories’ cruel two child benefits cap and rape clause as a potential source of funding.
With the Chancellor’s announcement that the cap will be scrapped UK-wide, the Scottish Government can now reallocate over a hundred million pounds previously earmarked to protect families from this harmful policy.
Ross said:
“This is one of the wealthiest societies in human history, but there are still thousands of children sitting in class with empty stomachs because of poverty.
“Pupils can’t learn when they are hungry, which is why free school meals are so important. It is one of the simplest and most effective steps we can take to tackle child poverty, eradicate hunger and boost achievement in school.
“This is about more than putting food on plates. It is about reducing stigma, and supporting parents struggling with soaring food costs and bills.
“With the Scottish Government’s budget only weeks away, the Scottish Greens are urging Ministers to provide free school meals to thousands more children who really need them.
“No child should be going hungry. It is shameful that so many are in Scotland, but more importantly, it is completely avoidable.
“Free school meals are a clear, practical step toward the fairer, greener and kinder Scotland that we want to build.”