Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has announced plans to give all primary and secondary pupils in Scotland free school meals.

Mr Leonard has also promised meals for all pupils during the summer holidays.

All pupils in the first three years of primary school in Scotland are already eligible for free school meals.

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Scottish Labour said it had conducted a number of trials in the Labour-led North Lanarkshire Council, which showed access to free school meals increased health and academic attainment.

Accusations of hypocrisy

However, its announcement today attracted some online criticism from opponents, who accused the party of hypocrisy having opposed free school meals initiatives in the past.

Mr Leonard said: “For too long, many kids from the most impoverished families have gone to school hungry and been automatically disadvantaged simply due to their family’s economic circumstances.”

He added: “But it’s not enough to only provide free school meals to those on low incomes. We need a plan that tackles the stigma that can prevent some children accessing free meals and the barriers that we know eligibility and registration create.

“That is why I am proud to announce today that a UK Labour government will provide the funds for a free meal for every child 365 days a year, regardless of their social and economic backgrounds.

“Children should not be put in a position where they are left behind through no fault of their own and through no fault of their family.”

The party estimates a total of £310 million would need to be spent on meals to ensure every child would have access to them, a £190 million increase from the current spend.

The document also outlines a £25 million capital spend on school infrastructure to make the free meals initiative a reality.

Pupils are missing out

Many children who are entitled to free school meals are not taking them every day, according to research published in October.

The Scottish poverty and inequality research unit at Glasgow Caledonian University found that around a quarter of the children registered for free meals in primary schools do not tend to have one. The proportion is even higher among secondary pupils.

The research, commissioned by the Association of Facilities Managers (Assist FM), whose members include every Scottish local authority school meals provider, showed that many children in schools were missing out on meals, with particular concerns over those entitled to free meals.

In April, a study suggested that children are going hungry because free school meals are not being offered to many of those whose parents are on low incomes.

The report, for the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), also indicated that even when young people receive free school meals, these might not be enough for their needs.