School meal trade-off causes 'deep concern'

Published on Thursday 7 January 2010 21:51

CHURCHES, unions and campaigners have written to Scotland's education minister expressing "deep concern" over the future of universal free school lunches for primary 1 to 3 pupils.

Signatories ranging from the Church of Scotland and the EIS teaching union to Oxfam and Save the Children are critical of Mike Russell's offer to councils last month allowing them to ditch free school meals in return for concentrating on lowering class sizes.

They are urging Mr Russell and councils to keep their promise of rolling out free school lunches by August and to provide a clearly set out revised timetable for any variation.

John Dicke, head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, who is co-ordinating the protest, said there was "widespread anger" at the trade-off.

"This has been a policy where the Scottish Government and local authorities have been ahead of the game. It would be a massive blow to families across the country if our political leaders were to backtrack now.

"Government at all levels is clearly under financial pressure, but it is families that face the greatest pressures of all."

Reverend Ian Galloway, convener of the Kirk's Church and Society Council, said almost 14 per cent of Scottish children lived in homes where no-one was in employment.

"Food in the stomachs of young children through free schools removes stigma and improves health," he said. "There is plenty of evidence linking healthy balanced meals with educational achievement."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The proposed framework will mean 11,000 additional pupils in P1-P3 are in classes of not more than 18 by August 2010.

"In return the Scottish Government will give councils the flexibility to provide free school meals for children in the most deprived areas."