Scotland’s children’s commissioner has warned John Swinney against the “shameful” decision to scrap universal free school meals as the Scottish Government faces a crucial vote in Holyrood.
The First Minister announced in last week’s Programme for Government that the roll out would now not include all children in primary 6 and 7, unless they were in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.
The commitment was first pledged in the SNP’s 2021 manifesto with former first minister Humza Yousaf expanding on that last year to pledge it would be rolled out by 2026.
Currently, all children in primary 1 to 5 can get free school lunches during term time, with ministers now saying they will expand the programme when they can afford it.
Children and young people’s commissioner Nicola Killean warned ministers “warm words” would not reduce child poverty as she warned some children were now buying extra food to share with those who could not afford any.
The move to a “targeted” approach, instead of a universal one, comes as the Scottish Government set out the challenging financial landscape, which included £500 million worth of cuts to plug a £1 billion black hole.
But the Scottish Tories will now use their opposition debate time on Wednesday to pressure the Scottish Government to reverse the decision.
It is not a binding vote, and will not force ministers to u-turn, however the SNP-led government does not have a majority and opposition parties could back the Tory motion, leading to problems for the Scottish Government.
Ahead of that vote, children and young people’s commissioner Nicola Killean warned ministers the universal roll out of free school meals was “vital”.
“Warm words about tackling child poverty do not keep children warm, nor do they put food in their tummies,” she said.
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“Going to school hungry is not only a barrier to learning and educational achievement but it can severely impact development in childhood and into adulthood.
“Providing access to universal school meals is vital; it helps reduce stigma and reinforces the understanding of food as a human right.
“We know that children who experience food insecurity are more likely to experience poor health, obesity and malnutrition, as well as other challenges to their physical and mental development.”
She added: “Any rollback or dilution of commitments to universal provision of school meals for P1-P7 can only be seen as a broken promise to children by the Scottish Government – the same government that just put children’s rights into law this summer.”
She said children had shared their concerns of other pupils not having enough food, adding: “They use their money to buy foo to share with friends who have none.”
Other children, she said, were being given snack bars or toast by teachers who know they have not eaten.
She added: The right to food is an entitlement, not a charitable act and it is shameful that pressure is being felt by other children and the school community to solve this issue when the Scottish Government is choosing not to.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Ministers have consistently warned of the significance of the financial challenges, due to prolonged Westminster austerity, the cost of living crisis & record high inflation - which has placed enormous and growing pressure on the public finances.
“That means that, whilst we remain resolutely committed to the universal expansion of free school meals in primary schools, the funding is not available for this to be completed by 2026.
“We continue to provide free school meals for nearly 278,000 pupils in primaries 1 to 5, special schools and to those eligible to S6 saving families around £400 per child per year. Our immediate focus is now to expand provision further to those in Primary 6 and 7 in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, which we will deliver in this parliamentary term."
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