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Scottish Labour promises free school meals for all pupils General election 2019: Scottish Labour calls for free school meals for all pupils
(about 2 hours later)
Scottish Labour will pledge to extend free school meals to all primary and secondary school pupils in Scotland. Scottish Labour has called for all primary and secondary pupils in Scotland to be given a free school meal every day of the year.
The party's leader Richard Leonard is to say 700,000 pupils across the country will benefit from the move. Leader Richard Leonard said the move would benefit 700,000 pupils across the country.
He is set to announce the plan, which is estimated to cost an extra £215m, as he launches his party's manifesto in Glasgow ahead of next month's election. The proposal will be included in the Scottish Labour manifesto ahead of next month's UK general election.
It is expected that Mr Leonard will also promise meals for all pupils during the summer holidays. But decisions over education, including school meals, are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Although a Westminster government can increase funding available, decisions over education are devolved to Holyrood so will be taken by the Scottish government. Labour would either need to the win the support of the Scottish government or win the next Holyrood election in 2021 before the policy could be introduced in Scotland.
Providing meals at weekends and school holidays will come at a cost of around £41m. All P1, P2 and P3 pupils in Scotland currently receive free school lunches regardless of their circumstances, but families have to pay from P4 onwards unless they receive certain welfare benefits or are in financial hardship.
The party has conducted a number of trials in the Labour-led North Lanarkshire Council area, which showed access to free school meals increased health and academic attainment. Mr Leonard said a UK Labour government would "provide the funds for a free meal for every child 365 days a year, regardless of their social and economic backgrounds".
Mr Leonard is expected to say: "It cannot be right that in the fifth biggest economy in the world, one in every four children in Scotland is living in poverty. How much would it cost?
Scottish Labour says it has estimated that giving a free meal to every pupil during term time would cost £310m a year - £190m more than the current policy.
Extending the policy to weekends and school holidays would cost £41m, its says, while Labour would also invest £25m in the infrastructure and services needed to provide the additional meals.
Speaking ahead of the manifesto launch, Mr Leonard said Labour-run North Lanarkshire Council had run trials which showed that access to free school meals improves the health and academic attainment of pupils.
He added: "It cannot be right that in the fifth biggest economy in the world, one in every four children in Scotland is living in poverty.
"After a decade of Tory austerity and SNP complacency, it is time for real and radical change."After a decade of Tory austerity and SNP complacency, it is time for real and radical change.
"For too long, many kids from the most impoverished families have gone to school hungry and been automatically disadvantaged simply due to their family's economic circumstances.""For too long, many kids from the most impoverished families have gone to school hungry and been automatically disadvantaged simply due to their family's economic circumstances."
He will add: "But it's not enough to only provide free school meals to those on low incomes. Mr Leonard said the move would also tackle the "stigma" that can surround pupils who currently continue to receive free meals after P3.
"We need a plan that tackles the stigma that can prevent some children accessing free meals and the barriers that we know eligibility and registration create. He added: "Children should not be put in a position where they are left behind through no fault of their own and through no fault of their family. Scottish Labour will end the scourge of child poverty once and for all."
"That is why I am proud to announce today that a UK Labour government will provide the funds for a free meal for every child 365 days a year, regardless of their social and economic backgrounds. Jeremy Corbyn launched the UK Labour party's manifesto on Thursday which pledged to invest £100bn in Scotland's economy over the next 10 years.
"Children should not be put in a position where they are left behind through no fault of their own and through no fault of their family. Scottish Labour will end the scourge of child poverty once and for all."
The party estimates a total of £310m would need to be spent on meals provision to ensure every child would have access, a £190m increase from the current spend.
The document will also outline a £25m capital spend on school infrastructure to facilitate the meals.
On Thursday, Jeremy Corbyn launched the UK Labour party's manifesto. It included a pledge to invest £100bn in Scotland's economy over the next 10 years.