SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: The Education secretary said she would personally raise the issue of free school meals with the FIrst Minister after speaking to pupils at Holyrood.
Jenny Gilruth has promised to appeal directly to new First Minister John Swinney for free school meals funding after meeting campaigning pupils at a Scottish Parliament summit.
Teachers, union leaders and public health experts have warned thousands of kids are attending school hungry because of the cost of living crisis. “It was brilliant to hear their voices about the importance of free school meals and what it means to them to reduce the stigma by introducing universal provision.
Leland Ahern, 10, who is in Primary 6 at Newton Primary in Ayrshire, said: “There should be free school meals not just for primary 1 to 5, they should be for everyone. If they are not then some children might not be getting the food they need to grow up strong and it’s not fair some people need to eat different food because they don’t have enough money.”
Swinney said the move would help ensure children are not “penalised” during the cost of living crisis.
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