The SNP promised free school meals for all primary pupils in its 2021 Scottish Parliament election manifesto.
Last night, however, the party confirmed that “the current financial situation means that universality will now not be delivered by 2026”, when the current parliamentary term is due to end.
Then at First Minister’s Questions today - when John Swinney came under fire from opposition politicians for “ditching” the pledge - Mr Swinney admitted that P6 and P7 pupils would not benefit from universal free school meals “this parliamentary term”.
He said he would “dearly love” to deliver the policy but “I cannot because we are still bound by the shackles of austerity”.
All children in the first five years of primary school in Scotland are already entitled to free school meals.
In August 2022 the rollout was due to continue to P6 and P7 pupils, but it was halted. At the time the government said councils needed more time to prepare.
In 2023 the Scottish government said free school meals would be offered to all pupils from 2026. Now that position has also been rolled back on.
Pressure over free school meals
In a statement sent out by the government soon after 6.30pm yesterday, following critical reporting of its position on free school meals, it said: “The Scottish government continues to be committed to the universal expansion of free school meals in primary schools. We are already delivering this provision in primaries 1 to 5, with the next stage of the rollout being for primary 6 and 7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.
“However, the current financial situation means that universality will now not be delivered by 2026. The Scottish government will work with partners in local government to meet our joint ambition to fully deliver on this commitment.”
The statement added: “Should funding from the UK government become available, then we will endeavour to complete delivery for all of Scotland’s primary pupils.”
The Scottish Greens hit out at the decision, saying it had come despite Mr Swinney’s insistence that tackling child poverty was his top priority.
Setting out his first programme for government in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Mr Swinney said his government’s goal was “not just to keep some children out of poverty, or only to make child poverty less acute” but to “lift every child in Scotland who is in poverty out of it”.
Ross Greer, the Greens’ education spokesperson, said: “It is outrageous that so many children live in poverty across the UK, one of the richest countries in the history of the planet. That’s why the Scottish Greens secured the expansion of free school meals to all P4 and P5 pupils in Scotland, and a commitment to include P6 and P7 before the next election.
“The SNP have dropped that commitment, despite claiming that tackling child poverty is their top priority. At the very same time, though, they are throwing millions of pounds of tax breaks at big businesses and elite landowners. They had a choice and they made the wrong one.”
Contrasting picture in Wales
The stop-start rollout of free school meals in Scotland stands in stark contrast to the comparably smooth rollout in Wales.
There, as of the start of the new academic year, every primary child is now able to receive a free school meal every school day.
Marking the important milestone on Tuesday, Eluned Morgan, Wales’ first minister, said: “I’m incredibly proud that Wales has become the first UK nation to offer free school meals to all primary pupils.”
The Welsh government set out the commitment in 2021 as part of its efforts to tackle child poverty.
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