3190 CHILDREN IN MIDLOTHIAN AND 1140 CHILDREN IN EAST LOTHIAN TO BENEFIT AS FREE SCHOOL MEALS EXTENDED

SNP GOVERNMENT PROVIDING £10 MILLION FOR SCHOOL MEALS OVER HOLIDAYS

More than 3190 children across Midlothian and 1140 children in East Lothian will benefit from extra funding to extend free school meals over the Christmas and Easter holidays.

£10 million has been made available by the SNP Government so that councils can continue providing free school meals through the winter breaks with future funding confirmed to extend support over Easter.

On Wednesday, Tory MPs voted rejected a plan to extend free school meals into the school holidays, arguing that it was not the job of schools to “regularly provide food during the school holidays”.

No Scottish Tory MP voted to support the plan, despite recent indications from Douglas Ross that he wishes to end the Tories’ opposition free school meals provision. 

SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:

“Many families in Midlothian and East Lothian are under considerable financial pressure at this time, and with less than two weeks until the UK government prematurely shuts down the furlough scheme, that’s unfortunately only set to get worse. 

“This important investment will support around 3190 children and young people in Midlothian and 1140 children and young people in East Lothian, helping families meet the cost of meals over Christmas, February and Easter holidays.

“The Scottish Government’s decision to extend the free school meals scheme will be a great relief for many hard-pressed parents.

“The Tories at Westminster had an opportunity to support thousands of families worrying about how they will put food on the table in the weeks ahead, but they refused to do so. 

“It’s clear that Westminster has a lot to learn from the SNP’s approach to tackling food insecurity and building a social security system based on fairness, dignity and respect.”