Universal free school meals pledge scrapped in Scotland, John Swinney confirms

The Scottish Government has abandoned its policy of expanding free school meals to all primary pupils, John Swinney has confirmed.

The SNP manifesto in 2021 committed to expanding “universal free school meals for all primary pupils, with free breakfast and lunch for all classes, all-year round” to P6 and P7 pupils.

Just hours before the First Minister’s confirmation that the policy will not be delivered by the next Holyrood election, Kate Forbes said the Government remained committed to the measure.

The deputy FM said ministers are “standing by” the commitment but she was unable to say when it will be implemented.

That came after the policy was not included in Swinney’s Programme for Government on Wednesday during which he said tackling child povery was his number one mission.

However, during FMQs Swinney confirmed free school meals will not be expanded to all P6 and P7 pupils.

John Swinney said tackling child poverty was his number one mission. Scottish Parliament

“The Government will deliver the commitment I set out yesterday to ensure that free school meals are available for all primary one to five pupils on a universal basis and primary six and seven who are eligible for the Scottish Child Payment and we will deliver that in this parliament,” he told MSPs.

That was in response to a question from Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross who asked the First Minister to clarify the Government’s position.

Ross claimed Swinney’s legacy would be “Scotland’s poorest children falling further behind”.

Swinney said: “We will not be able in this parliamentary term to roll out the eligibility on a universal basis across primary six and seven pupils because our budget has been eroded by the fiscal mismanagement and sky-high inflation which Douglas Ross was party to creating as part of his support for the United Kingdom government.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said it would “endeavour to complete delivery for all of Scotland’s primary pupils” should “funding from the UK Government become available”.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater criticised the move to abandon the pledge she said was a commitment secured by her party.

She said: “Can the FM explain how we’re supposed to take seriously his commitment to tackle child poverty, when he’s decided to leave children hungry?”

Swinney said he was doing all he can within the Scottish Government’s budget, which he said is limited by the UK Government.