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| Glasgow City Council considers free school meals for P4 children | Glasgow City Council considers free school meals for P4 children |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Scotland's largest council is to discuss providing free school dinners for all children in Primary 4. | Scotland's largest council is to discuss providing free school dinners for all children in Primary 4. |
| About 6,000 children in Glasgow could benefit if the current P3 limit is extended. | About 6,000 children in Glasgow could benefit if the current P3 limit is extended. |
| This the first time a Scottish council has looked at significantly extending automatic entitlement to free meals. | This the first time a Scottish council has looked at significantly extending automatic entitlement to free meals. |
| Earlier this week, North Lanarkshire Council agreed to pilot a scheme to provide free meals for all eligible children 365 days a year. | |
| The proposal will be discussed later when Glasgow City Council, along with about a third of all Scottish councils, sets its budget for the coming year. | The proposal will be discussed later when Glasgow City Council, along with about a third of all Scottish councils, sets its budget for the coming year. |
| Since 2015, all children in primaries 1, 2 and 3 have been entitled to a free meal - but after that, many have to start paying. | Since 2015, all children in primaries 1, 2 and 3 have been entitled to a free meal - but after that, many have to start paying. |
| 'No stigma' | 'No stigma' |
| Supporters argue that providing free meals as widely as possible helps to ensure there is no stigma and can help a child's health and education. | Supporters argue that providing free meals as widely as possible helps to ensure there is no stigma and can help a child's health and education. |
| Sceptics may question whether free meals for better-off children is the best use of scarce resources. | Sceptics may question whether free meals for better-off children is the best use of scarce resources. |
| Glasgow does not currently plan to copy North Lanarkshire's initiative but is looking at providing meals during school holidays for those from low-income families. | Glasgow does not currently plan to copy North Lanarkshire's initiative but is looking at providing meals during school holidays for those from low-income families. |
| Meanwhile, South Lanarkshire Council is to discuss an initiative which could help ensure all children entitled to free meals and school clothing grants receive them. | Meanwhile, South Lanarkshire Council is to discuss an initiative which could help ensure all children entitled to free meals and school clothing grants receive them. |
| The council is to debate auto-enrolment so that parents of eligible children do not have to actively claim the free meals and grants. | The council is to debate auto-enrolment so that parents of eligible children do not have to actively claim the free meals and grants. |
| The council believes there are several hundred children who are entitled to free school meals whose parents do not claim them. | The council believes there are several hundred children who are entitled to free school meals whose parents do not claim them. |
| It comes as about a third of Scotland's councils are due to set their budgets for the coming year and the local council tax. | It comes as about a third of Scotland's councils are due to set their budgets for the coming year and the local council tax. |
| All are likely to agree to raise council tax by 3% - the most they can increase it under the funding deal with the Scottish government. | All are likely to agree to raise council tax by 3% - the most they can increase it under the funding deal with the Scottish government. |
| So far, no councils have indicated they are likely to freeze the council tax voluntarily - as some did last year. | So far, no councils have indicated they are likely to freeze the council tax voluntarily - as some did last year. |
| The budget deal between the SNP and the Greens provided additional resources for local government. | The budget deal between the SNP and the Greens provided additional resources for local government. |
| It means many councils are not having to make the level of cuts and savings in the coming year that they had anticipated. | It means many councils are not having to make the level of cuts and savings in the coming year that they had anticipated. |