Free school meals to double

Published on Friday 2 March 2007 12:05

FIRST Minister Jack McConnell today pledged to almost double the number of children entitled to free school meals as a new report claimed 240,000 Scots children were living below the breadline.

Mr McConnell also promised to establish a new anti-poverty unit inside the Scottish Executive, directly answerable to him.

Today's report by the Child Poverty Action Group said 910,000 people in Scotland were living in relative poverty - 18 per cent of the total population.

But that number includes 240,000 children - 23 per cent of Scotland's child population.

The school meals proposal, which is designed to accelerate the progress towards ending child poverty in Scotland, is expected to be part of a package in Labour's manifesto for the next election,

The Child Poverty Action Group estimates 77,000 children living below the poverty line do not get a free school meal. Labour's action is expected to cost between 20 million and 30m.

Currently, only children in very low income families and those whose parents are out of work are entitled to a free school meal - about 122,000 in total.

Under the proposals expected to be announced today, free school meals will be extended to a further 97,000 children whose parents receive working tax credit.

A source close to the First Minister said: "He is determined to accelerate the drive to end child poverty. With the progress so far he is confident that we can meet our target and meet it early."

The CPAG report, Poverty in Scotland 2007, was compiled by academics, campaigners and frontline workers. It said progress has been made in reducing the number of people living in poverty, but more needs to be done.

A single person is defined as being in poverty if he or she is living on less than 100 a week; a lone parent with two children is living in poverty if he or she has less than 186 a week; and a couple with two children are in poverty on less than 268.

John Dickie, head of CPAG in Scotland, said: "Poverty in Scotland 2007 shows why politicians from all parties must commit themselves to the action needed to eradicate poverty.

"They must use the coming elections to tell us what more they would do to build on the progress already made."

Peter Kelly, director of Poverty Alliance, added that progress can be made if resources and political commitment is there.

"This is clear when we look at the experience of child poverty, where clear targets have been set and resources have been made available."