Too cruel for school

Not enough money to pay for less well-off P6&7 pupils to eat. Leaked paper says policy may not be in place by poll day

- PAUL HUTCHEON

THE SNP Government roll-out of free school meals for poorer children is in disarray over a £14million funding black hole.

A leaked paper reveals the vital plan for hungry kids may not be delivered by the time of the next Holyrood election, despite a manifesto promise by the SNP.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: "Brutal cuts imposed on councils by ministers are putting the overdue expansion of free school meals at risk.

"Any further delay will be a betrayal of low-income parents and their children.

The SNP promised free lunches for every primary school pupil all year round in their 2021 Holyrood manifesto.

This meant rolling out a policy already in place for younger pupils to every child in P6 and P7.

But when Humza Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon he delayed the policy, citing financial constraints.

He said free school meals for children in P6 and P7 would instead be targeted at those who receive the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), which is for low-income families with children under 16.

A paper produced by council umbrella group Cosla shows this more modest policy is also facing delays over a funding gap.

It claimed the Scottish Government earmarked £43million in capital funding for the roll-out but warned an analysis shows the total bill is £67million.

Cosla wrote that the "funding gap" had been raised with the government.