Budget: Expansion of free school meals must be at heart of tackling child poverty
Increasing access to free school meals must be at the heart of Scotland’s strategy for eradicating child poverty, says the Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP.
Mr Greer has called on the First Minister to change his budget plans to provide more children with a free lunch.
Commenting following a speech by the First Minister on tackling child poverty, Mr Greer said:
“It's shocking and entirely avoidable that so many children in the UK live in poverty. Pupils can’t learn and succeed at school if they’re hungry or stressed.
“The First Minister has said that tackling child poverty is his priority, which the Scottish Greens welcome. Expanding free school meals is one of the best ways he can do this, but that needs the Scottish Government to turn ambition and rhetoric into action.
“The Scottish Greens have always championed universal free school meals. We secured the expansion to all Primary 4 and 5 pupils and the upcoming rollout to P6 and P7 children who receive the Scottish Child Payment.
"We want to see the Scottish Government build on that progress, which is why we are again urging the First Minister to change his budget to give more children a free meal next term.”