More cash needed for free school meals

4th June 2009, 12:14pm

Council leaders are to ask the Scottish Government for more funding for free school dinners, according to a leaked report acquired by The Scotsman.

In October 2008, the government said it would increase the provision of free meals to an additional 44,000 kids. From August, parents who are entitled to the maximum working tax credit and the child tax credit will be included in the plan.

In addition, all pupils in the first three years of primary school will be entitled to free school dinners from August 2010.

The Convention of Scottish Authorities (Cosla) devised a report in May to keep leaders enlightened about the financial implications of the policy they have committed to.

The report revealed that £40 million is available in 2010-11, however councils predict that it will cost £55 million to deliver the commitments in 2011-12.

Karen Whitefield, Labour's early years spokeswoman, described the policy as a "cruel deception", meanwhile a spokesman for the teaching union for the EIS said that everyone must work together to ensure that the provision of high quality school meals can be delivered to primary school children.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government concluded: "Under the concordat between the Scottish Government and Cosla, sufficient funding is included in the local government settlement to extend enetitlement to free school lunches."

Related Articles:

• 30 Aug 2011 - Price of dinners is rising in two thirds of schools, finds Which?
• 09 Jun 2010 - Free school dinners 'bombshell'
• 11 Aug 2009 - More pupils now eligible for free school meals
• 17 Jun 2009 - Islington free school meals 'being sabotaged'
• 17 Jun 2009 - Wirral schools get top marks for their dinners
• 17 Jun 2009 - Special agents recruited for food safety mission
• 16 Jun 2009 - Pupils test the menu at Parklands High
• 10 Jun 2009 - St Aidan's High wins Best School Dinners 2009
• 09 Jun 2009 - New guide helps special schools to meet food standards
• 26 May 2009 - Councillors approve free school meals scheme
• 14 May 2009 - Free school meals given go ahead
• 08 May 2009 - Rise in pupils entitled to free school meals
• 04 Mar 2009 - Islington Labour wins free school meals for all
• 16 Jan 2009 - Free school meals criteria revealed
• 14 Jan 2009 - Recession increases demand for free school meals
• 28 Nov 2008 - Scottish MPs vote in favour of free school meals
• 02 Oct 2008 - Free school meals for all infant pupils

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