Free school meals for 44,000

Published on Wednesday 13 May 2009 22:05

FREE school lunches are to be extended to pupils whose parents receive both the maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit.

The Scottish Government said the move would see an additional 44,000 children benefit from August this year.

The initiative is to ensure poor parents who do work are not penalised. It is part of a roll-out of free school lunches to all.

From August next year, all P1-3 pupils will receive the free meals. Adam Ingram, the children and early years minister, said: "The Scottish Government is committed to helping Scotland's hard-pressed families as much as we can, particularly in these times of economic uncertainty.

"Extending the free school lunches entitlement will make a real difference for these families, with an average saving of 9 per week for each child."

John Dickie, head of the Child Poverty Action Group, said the move would help the increasing number of families facing financial pressure in the recession.

He said: "This extension of free school lunches entitlement couldn't come at a better time.

"Too many children in poverty have missed out on free school lunches because their parents worked."

He also said it would mean more parents can move back into work without losing out on an important benefit.

The entitlement will help those on an income of less than 6,420.

Previously, around 118,000 pupils were eligible, and the extension will mean a total of 162,000 children can benefit.