Scottish government faces defeat in free school meals vote

Scottish Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Willie Rennie said ministers should not make promises they cannot keep on efforts to improve child poverty.

He added: “Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney all committed to universal free school meals for primary pupils, but they have all failed to deliver.”

A Scottish government spokesman said it had warned of financial challenges due to “prolonged Westminster austerity, the cost of living crisis and record high inflation”.

He added: “That means that, whilst we remain resolutely committed to the universal expansion of free school meals in primary schools, the funding is not available for this to be completed by 2026.

“We continue to provide free school meals for nearly 278,000 pupils in primaries 1 to 5, special schools and to those eligible to S6 saving families around £400 per child per year.

“Our immediate focus is now to expand provision further to those in Primary 6 and 7 in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, which we will deliver in this parliamentary term.”