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Humza Yousaf challenged to speed-up free school meals for Scots primary pupils as a 'priority'
09.09.2023 - 03:51 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Humza Yousaf has been challenged to speed-up the roll-out of free school meals for all primary pupils.
The First Minister announced last week the key SNP policy would not be implemented nationwide before 2026.
Inverclyde Council is currently the only local authority offering free lunches to all pupils in primaries six and seven - while in the rest of Scotland only youngsters in primaries one - five receive them.
The delay in the roll-out has been blamed on the time needed to install adequate infrastructure in all schools.
Stephen McCabe, Inverclyde council leader, said the government must find the money "to make it happen now".
The Labour councillor said other local authorities wanted to follow Inverclyde's lead on offering free meals to all primary pupils.
He told the Record: "We have been able to do that due to the £270m investment we have made in our school estate over the last 15 years and by prioritising our budget to support families.
"I am sure all other councils in Scotland would want to do what Inverclyde has done - but that needs the Scottish Government to provide the capital and revenue support needed.
If this policy is genuinely a Scottish Government priority they should find the money to make it happen now."
The councillor added: "The money can always be found if something is a priority.
"I have long supported universal free school meals. The Government should get on and do it even if something less important has to be dropped from their programme."
Yousaf last week said the next phase of the expansion will see those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment receive free lunches, and it is hoped that will be rolled out in the "next year".
“I stand on that manifesto that we were elected upon that we said we will
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