Pupils set to tuck in to free school meals

Published on Wednesday 3 October 2007 12:09

A PILOT scheme to bring in free school meals for pupils in the first three years of their primary education was expected to be approved by MSPs today.

Members of the Scottish Parliament's education committee have already backed the plans put forward by the Scottish Government.

Today, the 5 million trial project was due to be discussed by parliament as a whole.

The pilot scheme will see more than 35,000 children in primaries one to three in the Borders, East Ayrshire, Fife, Glasgow, and West Dunbartonshire council areas receiving free, healthy lunches.

And children's minister Adam Ingram last week told MSPs the initiative could be rolled out to the rest of the country if it was a success.

That would cost between 30 million and 46 million a year.

However, Mr Ingram was criticised for bringing the project to the parliament for approval just weeks before it is due to get under way.