Scotland is set to become the first UK nation to offer free school meals to all primary children, by August next year.
Pupils in early primary - P1-3 - already receive free school meals; P4s will become eligible this August; P5s in January 2022, and P6s and P7s will be eligible by August 2022.
Previously, the government had committed to providing free breakfasts and lunches to all primary children throughout the year by August 2022 if re-elected in May. However, the Scottish Greens had called for the SNP to build free meals into the Scottish government’s budget instead of waiting until May to commit to the policy.
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Now - in exchange for backing the Scottish government’s budget - the Greens have made a deal that will see the rollout of universal free school meals beginning from August, with all primary pupils receiving free meals one year later.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said in a statement that he was “delighted” that the “constructive approach” of his party had yielded concessions from the Scottish government.
Today’s budget agreement delivers:
? Pandemic relief payments
? Increased eligibility for free school meals
? Free bus travel for under 22s
?? Enhanced public sector pay deal
? Measures to support a green recovery #WorkingForScotland pic.twitter.com/0JwEGhsSdo
- Scottish Greens (@scottishgreens) March 8, 2021
Mr Harvie said: “This year’s budget cements the impact the Scottish Greens have had on Scotland’s priorities over the last five years.
“From fairer taxes to local services, we’ve shown every year that Green MSPs will get things done to build a fairer and greener Scotland.”
Free school meals ‘a vital tool in tackling child poverty’
He added: “We’ve also been clear that school meals can be a vital tool in tackling child poverty. [Footballer] Marcus Rashford has brought the campaign for meals during the school holidays to the forefront, and I’m proud that Green MSPs have won that in Scotland, and universal free school meals for all primary kids by next summer.”
The budget also includes free bus travel for all 18- to 21-year-olds, an £800 pay rise for public sector workers earning up to £25,000 and a 2 per cent increase for those earning over £25,000 up to £40,000.
Finance secretary Kate Forbes said: “Today I can announce that we are able to go further in offering a fair and affordable pay settlement to the public sector workers to whom we owe so much through the pandemic, particularly the lowest paid.
“The budget already contains measures to help struggling families, but in this deal we are also announcing details of a £100 million programme of one-off pandemic support payments.
“And we commit to providing free school meals to every primary school pupil by August 2022, with expansion for P4s starting after this year’s summer holidays.”
