Welsh Government outlines plans for new laws
Julie James, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government's chief legal adviser, updated the Senedd on ministers' plans for new laws with only a year to go until the next election.
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Wales Online
27 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Free school meals offer in Wales under review
Free school meals offer in Wales under review The Welsh Government said it is looking at expanding the offer in line with England - to include secondary aged children whose parents are on Universal Credit Children of parents on Universal Credit in Wales are not automatically entitled to free school meals The free school meal offer to children in Wales is under review, the Welsh Government has confirmed. At the moment all primary school aged children are eligible for free school meals regardless of household income. Once they go on to secondary school they are no longer entitled to this offer, which then depends on their parents income, even if they receive Universal Credit. Currently, their household must earn less than £7,400 a year to qualify. Some school leaders have questioned the fairness of children from high income families receiving free meals at primary while those from lower income families at secondary are not. This week the UK government announced it is extending the free school meal offer in England to include all school children whose parents receive Universal Credit, regardless of their income. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the change will make 500,000 more pupils eligible and "help families who need it most". Asked whether Wales would now follow suit a Welsh Government spokesperson confirmed that children of parents on Universal Credit in Wales are not automatically entitled to free school meals but said this was now being reconsidered: 'More than two thirds of Welsh learners can access the offer of a free meal every day in schools, including all primary school learners and eligible families in secondary school. We are keeping the eligibility criteria under review'. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Currently 22.9% of children in Wales aged five to 15 meet the family income criteria to be eligible for free school meals - although for primary aged children that is automatic anyway. Article continues below The Welsh Government has recently announced a healthier food plan for school meals and you can read details of what foods will be allowed and what won't here. It comes after criticism that free school meals in Wales were not healthy enough. Some heads have been lobbying for the Welsh Government's free school meal offer to be extended to children aged 11 and above. Schools including Monmouth High and St Martin's in Caerphilly have run free breakfast clubs because children and teenagers were arriving for lessons hungry and you can read more about that here . Families not eligible for free school meals at secondary may still struggle to pay for lunches and snacks for their older children, school say. Those eligible also need more than just the lunch offer and don't have cash for snacks and breakfast, staff have reported. Families not eligible for free school meals at secondary may still struggle to pay for lunches and snacks for their older children. Those eligible also need more than just the lunch offer and don't have cash for snacks and breakfast, staff have reported. Who gets free school meals in Wales? Currently children may be able to get free school meals if their parents get any of the following: Income Support Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Child Tax Credit (as long as you don't also get Working Tax Credit and your annual income is £16,190 or less before tax) The guaranteed element of Pension Credit Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit Universal Credit - your household earnings must be less than £7,400 a year after tax. This does not include any income from benefits. The local authority where a learner goes to school (not where they live) is responsible for providing the free school meal as well as for assessing the eligibility. Foster children can claim free school meals as long as the foster parent is eligible. Article continues below
The National
38 minutes ago
- The National
50,000 letters sent to minister over controversial Flamingo Land plans
More than 50,000 people have written to the Public Finance Minister, Ivan McKee, in just two weeks, demanding that the Scottish Government withdraw its approval for Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond mega-resort planning application. In September 2024, the Yorkshire-based theme park operator, Flamingo Land Ltd, had their planning permission in principle rejected after all 14 board members of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Planning Authority. However, the decision to reject the £40 million resort plans was overturned by a Scottish Government official last month, when the developers appealed the decision. READ MORE: More than £1m in funding announced for restoration projects for Scottish coastline The proposal for the resort includes plans for more than 100 holiday lodges, two hotels, a waterpark, a monorail, 372 car parking spaces, shops, and more on the site called Lomond Banks. According to the Scottish Greens, more than 50,000 people have used a portal on their website to call on the Scottish Government to overturn the decision and scrap the development. Greens MSP Ross Greer (below) said the public's opinion on the proposal, which is the most opposed in Scottish planning history with more than 155,000 individuals lodging objections, 'couldn't be clearer'. (Image: PA) He said: 'The Scottish Government has got this badly wrong. They are about to allow a greedy developer to trash the gateway to our National Park. It is not too late for a u-turn though. They can still save Loch Lomond. 'In just two weeks the Planning Minister has heard directly from over 50,000 people calling on him to block these proposals. Public opinion couldn't be clearer and it is backed up by experts including the Government's own environment watchdog. 'I have campaigned side by side with local residents in Balloch for nearly ten years now to stop Flamingo Land. At every stage we have won on the basis of the overwhelming evidence against their plans, but that has all now been overturned by the Scottish Government.' Organisations such as the National Trust for Scotland, the Woodland Trust, the Ramblers, and the Scottish Government environment watchdog, SEPA, also raised objections against the plans. Greer added: 'I do not understand why the Scottish Government are determined to cosy up to greedy theme park operators rather than protect Scotland's world famous natural heritage. 'It's time for Government Ministers to actually listen to the people of Scotland and save Loch Lomond.' The news comes after Scottish ministers refused planning permission for a trotting track for harness racing on the historic Bannockburn battlefield site. The Scottish Government ruled that the proposals would 'introduce new development and urbanisation in one of the few remaining undeveloped parts of the battlefield'. As such, it ruled the development 'would have a significant adverse effect on the character of the battlefield, its setting and sense of place'. The site is where in June 1314 Robert the Bruce and his Scottish army famously defeated English troops led by King Edward II. The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.
The National
41 minutes ago
- The National
'Landmark' reached in Waspi campaign for legal challenge to Government
WASPI campaigners say they have cleared a hurdle in their battle for a High Court challenge. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group is seeking a judicial review to force the Government to reconsider its decision to rule out a compensation package for women affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated. The campaigners said they have received an update to say that their case is arguable, setting them on course for a court hearing. READ MORE: SNP activists reveal HQ silenced Reform strategy warnings A previous report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PSHO) suggested compensation ranging between £1,000 and £2,950 could be appropriate for each of those affected. But in December 2024, the Government said that, while it accepted the ombudsman's finding of maladministration and apologised for there being a delay in writing to 1950s-born women, a blanket compensation scheme, which could cost taxpayers up to £10.5 billion, cannot be justified. Waspi campaigners submitted arguments back in February for a legal case challenging the decision not to compensate women. (Image: PA) Lawyers for the campaigners argue that the Government's reasons for concluding that people should not receive any remedy are a breach of legal principles. Waspi said it also expects a hearing to consider its application for a costs capping order, so that campaigners would not be forced to pay unknown costs to cover the legal fees should they lose. READ MORE: John Swinney defends 'two-horse race' comments after by-election loss to Labour The group said that it may be forced to withdraw its challenge without this financial safeguard. It is also calling on supporters to help raise further funds for the legal challenge. Waspi chairwoman Angela Madden described the green light in its legal challenge as a 'landmark moment in our campaign'. She said: 'We are grateful for the funds raised so far and understand the country's purse strings are tight, but the Government cannot be allowed to brush this injustice aside.'
