Free School Meals

Scottish Executive Question Time — Education and Lifelong Learning – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:15 pm on 25 November 2010.

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Photo of Charlie Gordon Charlie Gordon Labour 2:15, 25 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress local authorities have made toward delivering the Scottish Government's commitment on free school meals. (S3O-12119)

Photo of Adam Ingram Adam Ingram Scottish National Party

In March 2010, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Government agreed that councils will provide a nutritious free meal to all children in primaries 1 to 3 in those schools that are in the 20 per cent most deprived communities in a council area. Reporting is a matter for local authorities and the information is held by them. We will continue to keep in close contact with COSLA and local authorities on the issue but, at this stage, there is no intention to introduce new or additional reporting burdens on local authorities.

Photo of Charlie Gordon Charlie Gordon Labour

I understand that the provision of free breakfasts in schools counts towards implementation of the Scottish Government's policy. Given the demise perforce of free breakfasts in Glasgow and the likely price increases for school breakfasts and lunches in the city, will the Government give councils such as Glasgow an above-average grant settlement for next year, or will it allow its school meals policy to die in the water?

Photo of Adam Ingram Adam Ingram Scottish National Party

I urge Glasgow City Council to revisit those potential decisions on withdrawing breakfast club initiatives. On allocating resources, the formulae that have been in use for many years will be used again for the distribution of funds from the Scottish Government to local authorities.