A campaigning councillor said she fears there could be a "significant" delay to the rollout of universal free school meals in Renfrewshire primary schools.
Alison Dowling, who represents Houston, Crosslee and Linwood, is urging the Scottish Government to give complimentary dinners to all children including those at secondary school but now has concerns P6 and P7 pupils could still be waiting a while yet.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney promised in November last year that by August 2022, free school meals would be made available to all primary pupils.
But an official budget document published last week revealed funding has only been made available to extend the programme to P4 and P5, while those in P6 and P7 will now have to wait until later in the parliamentary term.
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Councillor Dowling said she was worried about the roll-out going forward which she feels will be vital to removing the stigma around food poverty and deprivation.
She said: "The SNP government has a bad track record for missing targets, so I’m concerned there could be a significant delay in expanding free school meals to P6 and P7s.
"The Scottish Government has also yet to confirm how much funding Renfrewshire Council will get to provide these additional school meals.
"I’m concerned the SNP Government will not fully fund the initiative and pass the shortfall back to the council.
"Poverty has increased across Houston, Linwood and across Renfrewshire. Some parents have to choose between heating or eating, or sometimes have cereal for dinner so their children can eat.
"Free, healthy school meals for all school children would remove the stigma of ‘difference’ that has blighted so many childhoods in the past.
"I’m asking the Scottish Government to expand free school meal provision to all nursery, primary and secondary school pupils in Scotland."
A petition created by Councillor Dowling calling for free meals to be rolled out to all schoolkids no matter their circumstances will be going live next week.
Renfrewshire Council has confirmed P5s will start receiving free meals next month as funding has already been handed out for this but they are awaiting clarification on the rest of the rollout.
Those in P4 have been entitled to complimentary grub since August.
Finance secretary Kate Forbes made no mention of the delay to the policy in her budget speech last week.
"Food and child poverty is unacceptable in any civilised society and we can’t ignore that food poverty is sometimes hidden within schools, especially with secondary school age pupils," added Councillor Dowling.
"Going through the school day on an empty stomach is wrong whether you’re ten or 14."
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We are waiting on clarification from the Scottish Government.”
A Scottish Government spokesman added: “We have provided funding to support the expansion of free school lunches to primary 4 and 5.
“Ministers are committed to funding the expansion of free school meals to all pupils in primary and special schools during this parliament.
"Our budget plans for 2022-23 will provide £30m capital allocation for investment in school kitchen and dining areas to prepare for this further expansion and we will continue to work with local government partners on planning over the next academic year.
"This is to ensure the expansion can be delivered equitably across all schools in all areas whilst maintaining high-quality meal provision for pupils.”
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