iStockThe Scottish Government has ditched its pledge to provide universal free school meals to all primary pupils.
John Swinney set out his first Programme for Government on Wednesday which focused on eliminating child poverty in Scotland.
But his 30-minute speech made no mention of the Scottish Government’s previous commitments on expanding free school meals.
According to the 47-page document published alongside the speech, ministers will “work towards further expanding free school meals to those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment in Primary 6 and Primary 7”.
The Scottish Government said the “current financial situation” means that free school meals will not be rolled out universally by its planned date of 2026.
The document said nearly £22m will be made available for “free school meal alternatives in all school holidays for eligible families”.
The SNP’s 2021 Holyrood manifesto had committed to free school breakfasts and lunches for every primary school pupil in Scotland “all year round and for all children in state-funded special schools in Scotland”.
The Scottish Greens blasted the move, with education spokesperson Ross Greer stating the move was “outrageous” despite the Scottish Government committing to tacking child poverty as its top priority.
The Green MSP said: “It is outrageous that so many children live in poverty across the UK, one of the richest countries in the history of the planet. That’s why the Scottish Greens secured the expansion of free school meals to all P4 and P5 pupils in Scotland, and a commitment to include P6 and P7 before the next election.
“The SNP have dropped that commitment, despite claiming that tackling child poverty is their top priority. At the very same time though, they are throwing millions of pounds of tax breaks at big businesses and elite landowners. They had a choice and they made the wrong one.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government continues to be committed to the universal expansion of free school meals in primary schools. We are already delivering this provision in primaries 1 to 5, with the next stage of the rollout being for Primary 6 and 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.
“However, the current financial situation means that universality will now not be delivered by 2026. The Scottish Government will work with partners in local government to meet our joint ambition to fully deliver on this commitment.
“Should funding from the UK Government become available, then we will endeavour to complete delivery for all of Scotland’s primary pupils.”
The First Minister delivered the programme for government just a day after his finance secretary announced about £500m worth of cuts.
Swinney’s announcements contained little new funding but he said he remained committed to fighting child poverty, which he said was his biggest priority.
“Our goal is to lift every child in Scotland who is in poverty out of it, so, we must do more,” he said.
He said the Scottish Government would “consider where greater investment is needed”.
But he said: “The key objective of the approach we will take forward will be to deliver significant reform of the work of public services to deliver whole-family support extensively across the country.”
Outgoing Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said the financial pressures faced by the Government are due to the “SNP choices”.
He said: “What we are getting now, because of this financial mismanagement, is a threadbare programme for government published today.”
Ross continued: “This was John Swinney’s big chance… has he really waited 25 years to deliver that speech?”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the First Minister had failed to deliver a promised “great relaunch”.
He also criticised the lack of any mention of drugs deaths, accusing the SNP of “simply running down the clock” until the next election.
Amid a rowdy debating chamber, Sarwar said: “Clearly, they aren’t learning the lessons of the verdict of the Scottish people.”
The programme for Government “failed” in being honest about the scale of the challenges facing Scotland, he said.
He said: “Scotland needs change, it’s sick of this failing SNP Government and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it.”
In a statement, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government continues to be committed to the universal expansion of free school meals in primary schools.
“We are already delivering this provision in primaries one to five, with the next stage of the rollout being for primary six and seven pupils in receipt of the Scottish child payment.
“However, the current financial situation means that universality will now not be delivered by 2026. The Scottish Government will work with partners in local government to meet our joint ambition to fully deliver on this commitment.”
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