SNP urged to rethink scrapping free school meals for primary pupils

The SNP will be urged to rethink a decision on scrapping free school meals for all primary pupils in Holyrood on Wednesday.

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney laid out his Programme for Government last week, with a focus on child poverty – but reversed a commitment to universal free school meals, made in the SNP manifesto at the 2021 Holyrood election.

The manifesto pledged “universal free school meals for all primary pupils, with free breakfast and lunch for all classes, all-year round”, and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes told BBC Radio Scotland it had not been “ditched” but was “contingent on funding being made available”.

Mr Swinney blamed the decision on the previous UK Government, and confirmed free meals will not be delivered universally to Primary Six and Primary Seven pupils by 2026, but only to those eligible for the Scottish Child Payment in the same year groups.

The SNP are being urged to reverse plans to scrap universal free school meals for primary pupils (Ben Birchall/PA). PA Media

The Scottish Conservatives will use Parliamentary business slots on Wednesday, a week after the announcement, to urge Mr Swinney to reverse it.

Shadow education secretary Liam Kerr said the SNP had “shamefully abandoned” the poorest pupils, and that his own party was the first to commit to the universal rollout of free school meals for primary pupils in 2020, which it continues to support.

He said the decision “flies in the face” of the SNP’s pledge to eradicate child poverty, and the Nationalists had “repeatedly let down” children.

Mr Kerr called on fellow MSPs to back calls for them to deliver the pledge, during a vote on Wednesday.

Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liam Kerr MSP said: “John Swinney and the SNP have shamefully abandoned Scotland’s poorest pupils by axing the universal rollout of free school meals in primary schools.

“We are using crucial Parliamentary time this week urging him to reverse that shocking decision.

“It is another example of how the SNP have repeatedly let down Scotland’s children.

“John Swinney as education secretary personally made this promise to deliver free school meals to every primary school pupil in Scotland.

“By ditching it, it flies in the face of the SNP’s plans to eradicate child poverty.

“I urge the SNP to do the right thing and deliver this pledge as promised.

“The Scottish Conservatives have been proud to stand on a similar pledge and continue to do so.

“If the SNP will not U-turn then I call on MSPs from all parties to join the Scottish Conservatives and send the strongest possible message to the SNP in this vote on Wednesday and back the rollout of free school meals for all primary pupils.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government has consistently warned of the significance of the financial challenges, due to prolonged Westminster austerity, the cost-of-living crisis and record high inflation, which has placed enormous and growing pressure on finances.

“That means that, whilst we remain resolutely committed to the universal expansion of free school meals in primary schools, this will not now be fully completed by 2026.

“We provide free school meals for nearly 278,000 pupils in primaries one to five, special schools and to those eligible to S6 saving families around £400 per child per year.

“We will now expand provision further to those in Primary Six and Seven in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.”