John Swinney is being urged to put free school meals back on the menu after receiving a bumper block grant in the budget.
Scotland’s most senior trade union chief has called on the First Minister to use the extra cash from Chancellor Rachel Reeves to fulfil his own party’s pledge on school lunches.
The SNP promised to bring in free school meals for P6 and 7 pupils within the current parliament in its manifesto but earlier this year announced it couldn’t afford it.
During First Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Swinney said he was “considering” the policy again after the UK Government handed Holyrood an extra £3.4bn in its block grant during the budget.
Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has called for some of Holyrood’s £47.7bn total settlement from Westminster to be used to enact the promised policy.
The Sunday Mail has campaigned alongside the STUC for universal free school meals for all school pupils and has been backed by trade unions, MSPs and celebrities including Scotland captain Andy Robertson.
Foyer said: “With the extra money allocated as a result of the UK Government budget, the Scottish Government have been given a reprieve on their betrayal.
“We are willing to wipe the slate clean and work with the government to deliver what they had already promised to pupils in poverty across Scotland.
“With £1.5 billion added to his government spend for this year alone, the is plenty of change for him to pay for lunch.
“Hungry pupils needn’t wait until next year for his government to ‘consider’ doing something they already have a mandate for.
“The time for excuses is over. We agree with him wholeheartedly on wanting to eradicate child poverty. He’s now got the money to pay up for our pupils. It’s time to deliver.”
The Sunday Mail previously told of how schools are having to divert cash meant for spending on additional learning support to buy lunch for pupils who don’t qualify for free school meals.
Teachers are also reporting a rise in the number of children coming to class hungry and lacking in concentration.
Foyer has now written to Swinney calling for him to reinstate his pledge to offer free meals to P6 and 7 children and said: “This measure will make a marked difference to families across Scotland who are struggling to cover the cost of a school day and would support our shared ambition to end the stigma of poverty and the real hunger that some children in Scotland face.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are assessing the full implications of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget statement. Finance Secretary Shona Robison will be announcing further details as part of the Scottish Budget on 4 December.”
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