Greens to back Budget amid commitment to expand free school meals 

The party secured a regional trial of a £2 cap on bus fares and the expansion of free school meals to some S1 to S3 pupils.

Scottish Greens to back SNP Budget amid commitment to expand free school meals to S1-S3iStock

The Scottish Greens will back the Scottish Government’s Budget after securing the expansion of free school meals for S1 to S3 pupils in receipt on the Scottish Child Payment.

The party also secured a regional trial of a £2 cap on bus fares, despite claims by the transport secretary last week that there was no money to fund the scheme.

As a result of the negotiations, the Greens said environmental and nature restoration funding will rise to £4.9bn, while young islanders will receive free ferry travel.

The negotiations means the SNP’s Budget will almost certainly pass. The first stage of voting will begin next week.

Finance spokesman Ross Greer said: “The Scottish Greens put climate action, tackling child poverty, cheaper buses and ferries and funding for schools at the heart of our budget negotiations. We have delivered progress on all of these fronts, so our MSPs will be voting for the budget.

“No young person should be sitting in school hungry.

“As a result of our work, thousands more pupils in S1 to S3 will now receive a free school meal. This will build on the success of expanding free school meals in primary schools, a policy delivered by the Scottish Greens a few years ago.

“Our Green MSPs have also secured a year-long regional trial where bus fares will be capped at £2, because we know the cost of public transport needs to come down.

“This also builds on the success of free bus travel for young people, another Scottish Green policy we made a reality.

“With climate chaos all around us, we have worked to deliver record funding for nature restoration and our environment.

“These Green projects are creating well-paid jobs in communities across the country, particularly in rural areas.”

The announcement earlier this month from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar that his MSPs would abstain on the budget all but assured the plans – announced in December – would pass, but the announcement from the Greens has added certainty to the Government’s position.

Greer added: “These changes secured by Scottish Green MSPs will lift more children out of poverty, reduce the cost of public transport, create good quality jobs, tackle the climate crisis and protect local services.

“That’s in stark contrast to Labour, who agreed to let the SNP’s budget pass without making any attempt to improve it.

“If you want action to help people and planet, voting Scottish Greens is the best way to deliver it.”

The Scottish Lib Dems are also expected to announce their stance on the budget on Tuesday.

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