Ministers urged not to ‘abandon’ young by axing free school meals rollout

The Scottish Government has been urged not to “abandon” young people by scrapping universal free school meals for primary pupils.

The change was made last week in the Programme for Government as a result of funding worries and it has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and charities.

The issue is being put to a vote in Holyrood on Wednesday, with ministers likely to lose it – although Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has intimated the Government will maintain the decision regardless of the outcome of the vote.

In a debate on the issue brought by the Scottish Conservatives, the party’s education spokesman Liam Kerr said the decision will “set back” the Government’s drive to eradicate child poverty.

“By axing the universal rollout of free school meals in primary schools, the SNP have shamefully betrayed Scotland’s poorest pupils,” he said.

“They have abandoned any pretence that they know how to eradicate the attainment gap and/or child poverty, and they have played fast and loose with the trust that the people of Scotland invested in them.”

Concluding, Mr Kerr said: “I call on MSPs from all parties to put the party politics aside today and let us send the strongest possible message to the SNP that they cannot, no – they must not abandon the young people of Scotland.”

Responding to Mr Kerr, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the Government does not disagree with him, but that her amendment seeks to “provide the necessary financial context” to the decision.

Her changes to the motion from Mr Kerr blame the “austerity agenda” of the previous Conservative and current Labour UK governments, adding that the universal rollout would cost £256 million.

“But I understand the deep disappointment that universal rollout to primaries six and seven has been delayed and, frankly, I share that disappointment,” she said.

The Education Secretary went on to say she will “listen to and engage” with the opposition in the debate.

Meanwhile, Labour’s education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy accused the Government of being a “barrier to opportunity”, adding that “people are sick of being promised stuff they don’t get”.

Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens education spokesman, said the cut is “not inevitable” and there are a “range of ways” the Scottish Government could save money in-year.

The Green MSP suggested freezing spending on trunk roads and motorways, as well as “scaling back tax breaks on shooting estates”.

Scottish Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie claimed the Government had looked for ways to row back on the promise since it was made, adding the issue should not be used as “election gimmicks”.