Secondary pupils eligible for free meals under new plans
Youngsters between S1 and S3 whose family receive Scottish Child Payment (SCP) will be eligible for free school meals across eight local authorities come this August.
The change will happen in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles, following the latest expansion campaign by the Scottish Greens.
READ MORE: What is there for Scotland in Rachel Reeves's Spending Review? What we know so far
Ross Greer, Scottish Greens spokesperson for education, said: 'Thousands of young people will now get a free school meal through our pilot programme. Children can't learn if they are hungry and we know that free meals can have a transformative impact on their success at school.
'The Scottish Greens have always championed universal free school meals, and that is why we brought this proposal to the table during budget negotiations. It builds on our previous work to expand free school meals in P4-7, which is already helping tens of thousands of children.
'These eight areas are just the start. Green MSPs will now push for this programme to be expanded to every other council as soon as possible and eventually, for every pupil from early years right up to S6 to receive a free school meal.'
READ MORE: 'First in Scotland': New 'free' store opens in Glasgow shopping centre
Scottish Green MSPs previously secured the expansion of universal free school meals to P4 and P5 pupils, as well as the ongoing expansion to P6 and P7 pupils who receive the SCP.
Figures from earlier this year showed that almost £3 million worth of school meal debt was written off in Scotland across 29 local authorities through a national fund, with Aberdeen benefiting the most with £400,000 of debt wiped by the fund.
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