Scotland’s free school meals scheme extended across summer months, Nicola Sturgeon confirms

Free school meals will be extended to pupils across Scotland throughout the summer, the First Minister has confirmed.

Nicola Sturgeon said that £12.6m of funding would be provided to local authorities to enable the scheme to continue between the end of June and the expected start of the new academic year in August.

With schools closed to the majority of pupils throughout the pandemic, councils have been providing lunches through hub schools or directly via cash or supermarket vouchers or prepared meals.

The scheme is currently available to around 175,000 children.

Ms Sturgeon said: “We know families are under considerable financial pressure just now and free school meals are a vital help to many, but they’re also really important to the health and welfare of children.”

“We will provide £12.6 million in funding to local authorities to enable the continuation of free school meals during the period from the end of June to the start of the new term in August.”

The First Minister said the funding would be allocated “in a way that allows councils, as many of them do, to co-ordinate school meal provision with wider support that they make available to families”.

She added that £15 million will also be made available to councils to continue to provide extra support to those in severe poverty or who face other barriers to accessing food.

Ms Sturgeon’s announcement was followed by the UK Government announcing the provision of a similar scheme in England.

Pressure had mounted on the Tories as a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford urged Boris Johnson to provide help for hungry children in England.

The Manchester United and England star, who has been helping vulnerable people throughout the pandemic, called on the UK Government to extend the free school meal voucher scheme over the summer in an open letter.

An Open Letter to all MPs in Parliament…#maketheUturn

Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcv

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020

A Department for Education spokesman had said that the national voucher scheme “will not run during the summer holidays”.

But now a “Covid summer school fund” is being set up by the government which will see children eligible for free school meals in term time in England be provided with a six-week voucher.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Owing to the coronavirus pandemic the Prime Minister fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer.

“To reflect this we will be providing a Covid Summer Food Fund.

“This will provide food vouchers covering the six-week holiday period.

“This is a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic.

“The scheme will not continue beyond the summer and those eligible will be those who already qualify for free school meals.”

Referring to Mr Rashford, he said: “The PM welcomes his contribution to the debate around poverty and respects the fact that he has been using his profile as a leading sportsman to highlight important issues.”

The cost will come to £120 million in additional funding, Downing Street said.

I don’t even know what to say.
Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “This is another welcome u-turn from Boris Johnson.

“The thought of 1.3 million children going hungry this summer was unimaginable.

“Well done to @MarcusRashford and many others who spoke out so powerfully about this issue. #HolidaysWithoutHunger”.

Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson had earlier today backed Rashford’s campaign, tweeting: “I totally get that some [local authority] funding has been put in place, but am baffled why [Westminster] colleagues picking this hill to die on.

“I didn’t have or need free school meals, but I went to a school where a huge % did. Food security during the holidays so important. It’s basic. Feed the kids.”