Scottish MPs vote in favour of free school meals

28th November 2008, 11:48am

Scottish councils will be able to offer free school meals to primary school children in years one to three after members of the Scottish parliament (MSPs) last night passed the legislation.

But groups representing the Scottish local authorities have said that spending decisions will be down to councils despite ministers insisting the new rules are already fully funded.

The Scottish Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties lodged their objections to the policy.

Liz Smith MSP, from the Tories, said: "The facts are somewhat different. The provisions of the Instrument do not compel local authorities to give every pupil in P1-3 a free school meal. They merely allow councils discretion whether to provide them free of charge.

"But this being the case, then MSPs also need to be told whether there will be any financial penalty levied on local authorities who chose not to extend free schools meals. John Swinney ducked the issue when pressed at the Local Government Committee earlier this month. But without that detail, how can anyone support the Instrument?"

Scottish Labour backed the policy but did call on the Scottish Government to ensure that funding is not diverted from existing education services in order to implement free school meals.

Scottish Labour's Children and Early Years spokesperson, Karen Whitefield, said: "Labour is not against providing more free school meals for children in primary schools, but we are against councils being forced to cut other education services in order to pay for this policy.

"I visited a well established breakfast club at St Dominic's Primary School in Airdrie this morning to highlight the important contribution they make to children's learning experience. We are calling for the SNP government to guarantee that funding will not be diverted from vital services like breakfast clubs to pay for their free school meals policy."

The free school meals for primary school children in years one to three will be introduced in August 2010.

Related Articles:

• 04 Jun 2009 - More cash needed for free school meals

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