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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Peter Davidson

All school kids in Scotland to receive free meals during summer holidays under new Labour plans

All school pupils would receive a free meal during the summer holidays under new plans drawn up by Scottish Labour.

Leader Anas Sarwar has announced plans for a catch-up club policy for kids up and down the country.

Under the proposal all primary and secondary school children across Scotland would be entitled to a free meal, which means around 700,000 pupils could benefit.

Sarwar, who is fighting Nicola Sturgeon in her Glasgow Southside constituency, said the SNP is only committed to giving out food to primary kids.

During the first TV debate he landed a blow on the First Minister after he highlighted the poverty levels in the area she represented at Holyrood.

Labour says its plan would help deal with the holiday hunger and child poverty problems plaguing Scotland.

Around a quarter of children in Scotland live in relative poverty and holiday hunger remains a serious issue.

According to Scottish Government data around a quarter of children in Scotland live in relative poverty.

On his plans, Sarwar said: "This pandemic has thrown the existing inequalities in our society into sharp relief.

"Around a quarter of children in Scotland live in relative poverty – that is a scandal.

"And we know that while many children continue to enjoy daily nutritional meals throughout the summer, many are left to go hungry.

"By introducing summer meal clubs for all of Scotland’s school pupils, Scottish Labour will put the fight against child poverty and holiday hunger at the heart of our National Recovery Plan.

"We cannot, and we must not, return to the old inequalities after this pandemic.

"This ambitious policy can ensure that no child goes hungry over the summer holidays."

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