Target kids that need free school meals the most.. NOT EVERYONE

>>First Minister announces new funding for out-of-hours clubs to tackle poverty »But he signals departure from Sturgeon policy of dinners for all primary pupils

- PAUL HUTCHEON

HUMZA Yousaf has signalled a major departure from his predecessor as he considers dumping the roll-out of free universal school meals.

The new First Minister spoke yesterday as he announced extra funding for after-school clubs in a bid to cut child poverty.

Yousaf told the Record he wanted to be judged above all else on whether poverty levels fall.

He said: "I've got a 14-year-old now. Should people be paying for her free school meals when I earn a First Minister's salary? "I don't think that's the right way to use that money. A better way is to target those that need it absolutely the most.

Yousaf will today host an antipoverty summit in Edinburgh, which will be attended by experts, charities and opposition leaders.

With about 250,000 children languishing in poverty, he wants fresh ideas brought to the table.

He will announce extra cash to help low-income parents by ensuring their children can stay in school for longer.

Yousaf said: "I'm really pleased to be able to announce £4.5million of capital funding and that will go to help local authority schools to really actually use in quite a flexible way in whatever they need to do in order to help with school-aged childcare holiday clubs, after-school clubs.