Aberlour has called for the cancellation of school meals debt. Through its research, it has identified that

“income thresholds for free school meal eligibility have barely risen in the last twenty years.”

Delays to the extension of free school meals mean that some parents and families are now feeling the impact of the Government’s inaction. Will the First Minister back calls for the cancellation of school meals debt? Will he consider an immediate uprating of the income thresholds to give working families some much-needed relief and further reduce the likelihood of hunger in schools?

We will, of course, consider any suggestions—not just from trusted third sector partners such as Aberlour, but from members right across the chamber, as we head into the budget process. We have a very generous free school meals offer and, as per my programme for government, we will seek to expand that.

However, we know that we still have significant challenges around poverty in Scotland. It is due to the Scottish Government’s actions, including the game-changing Scottish child payment, that an estimated 90,000 children will be lifted out of poverty this year. Instead of our having to continually mitigate the harm from Westminster—such as from the two-child limit, the benefits cap and the rape Clause, some of which we can mitigate and some of which, I am afraid, we simply cannot mitigate—would not it be much better to have the full powers in our own hands, so that we could not only reduce poverty but eradicate it altogether?

The Presiding Officer:

That concludes First Minister’s questions.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer.

In the First Minister’s answers this afternoon, he said of the request for messages from the Scottish Government that

“The messages were asked for in September, just a matter of weeks ago.”

However, commenting on that, at the UK Covid inquiry, Jamie Dawson KC said:

“requests have sought not only information, but also access to potentially relevant messages ... requests for such information and such messages were issued in late 2022”.

Can the First Minister confirm that counsel to the inquiry is correct? If so, will he revise the statement that he made to Parliament?

The Presiding Officer:

The point that Mr Ross raises is not a point of order. Mr Ross’s comments are now on the record, and there might or might not be a response. However, the content of a member’s contributions are a matter for the member.

12:48 Meeting suspended.

12:49 On resuming—