Speaking ahead of the parliamentary debate tabled for tomorrow (Wednesday 11/09) the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Nicola Killean urged the Scottish Government to reverse its decision to only expand free school meals to P6 and P7 in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment by 2026.  

Pointing to the negative impact on children’s rights, Commissioner Nicola Killean said: 

“Warm words about tackling child poverty do not keep children warm, nor do they put food in their tummies. Going to school hungry is not only a barrier to learning and educational achievement but it can severely impact development in childhood and into adulthood. 

“Providing access to universal school meals is vital; it helps reduce stigma and reinforces the understanding of food as a human right. We know that children who experience food insecurity are more likely to experience poor health, obesity and malnutrition, as well as other challenges to their physical and mental development.  

“One of the greatest barriers to the take up of school meals are feelings of shame and stigma, and only providing meals to P6-P7 in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment just exacerbates that stigma. 

“Any roll back or dilution of commitments to universal provision of school meals for P1-P7 can only be seen as a broken promise to children by the Scottish Government – the same government that just put children’s rights into law this summer.”

Ms Killean added that children themselves are being forced to take steps to help others at school who are hungry. 

The Commissioner said: 

“For some children in Scotland, eating a hot, nutritious meal at school may be the only meal they have that day. Some children have shared with me that they use their money to buy food to share with friends who have none.  We hear regularly that hungry children are frequently being given snack bars or toast by their teachers who know they have not eaten that day.  The right to food is an entitlement, not a charitable act and it is shameful that pressure is being felt by other children and the school community to solve this issue when the Scottish Government is choosing not to.”

In November 2020 the then Cabinet Secretary for Education and now current First Minister made the strong commitment that every child in primary school would be given a free school meal by 2022.  

The Commissioner said: 

“Four long years after clear promises made to children and instead there is no universal roll out for primary children and commitments to complete by 2026 now further diluted. Meanwhile children’s lives have been further impacted by the damaging cost-of-living crisis.  

“Food insecurity and experiencing poverty is a violation of children’s rights and the Scottish Government must do all it can to meet its human rights obligations.” 

ENDS.  

Please contact media@cypcs.org.uk for all enquiries.