SCOTLAND'S Education Secretary has confirmed Scotland’s new “Welcome to School Bag" will be a backpack, after suggestions it could instead be a tote bag.
Education Secretary Mairi McAllan confirmed the bag would be a backpack after political opponents took issue with civil servants suggesting a tote bag to reduce expenses.
The Welcome to School Bag would be provided to all Primary 1 pupils in Scotland and was announced during the Holyrood campaign by First Minister John Swinney.
It would contain a school bag with a starter pack filled with “essential school items” including stationery, books, a water bottle, and “resources to help families encourage literacy and numeracy practice at home”.
It follows a similar principle to the Baby Box, which was introduced by Nicola Sturgeon's SNP government in 2017.
Asked by Laura Maciver on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast whether the bag would be a backpack or "a watered-down" tote bag, McAllan first said: "Look, it's not unusual for civil servants to offer options to ministers. I hope you can appreciate that happens across the board on a whole – well – almost every government policy you can imagine.
"Ministers will get advice on costs and options, but this will be a bag –"
"A backpack or a bag?" Maciver interrupted, "because your campaign videos clearly showed a backpack."
McAllan replied: "I mean, is that really – yes it will be a backpack – but on a day when nearly 150,000 young people are awaiting exam results to shape their future, whether it's a backpack or a bag on their shoulder, really isn't the most important thing, I'd suggest."
School pupils across the country received their school results on Tuesday.
Maciver defended her line of questioning, stating: "The Tories have suggested it was a 'goodie bag gimmick' so I'm just giving you the opportunity to respond , and you've told us it will be backpack so you've clearly answered that question."
"It will be," McAllan confirmed, adding: "Lots of your listeners, and my wee one has just turned two, I received the baby box when he was born, and this is a similar idea. It's about preparations for the next stage of a young person's life."
