SCOTLAND’S Children’s Commissioner yesterday slammed Nats for ditching a free school meals vow.
Nicola Killean criticised John Swinney for his “broken promise” after his 2020 pledge to roll out lunches for all primary pupils by 2022 failed to materialise, then was axed last week.
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And she appeared to suggest the Scottish Government may be at risk of breaching its own kids rights law.
Pupils up to P5 currently get free meals.
They will now only be expanded to those in P6 and P7 in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment by 2026.
Ms Killean said: “The right to food is an entitlement, not a charitable act.
“It is shameful that pressure is being felt by other children and the school community to solve this issue when the Government is choosing not to.
“The Scottish Government must do all it can to meet its human rights obligations.”
Mr Swinney has said his main aim as First Minister was to “eradicate child poverty”.
The SNP Government said: “Whilst we remain committed to the universal expansion of free school meals, the funding is not available to complete this by 2026.”
