What discussions it has had or is planning to have regarding extending entitlement to free school meals to school children whose parents re…

An amendment proposing an extension of entitlement to free school meals to schoolchildren whose parents receive Working Families Tax Credit or Disabled Person's Tax Credit was considered and rejected during the passage of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc (Scotland) Act 2000. The level of Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Person's Tax Credit is a reserved matter.Ministers are committed to quality school meals, other healthy eating initiatives and improving the uptake of both. However, we do not collect information about the arrangements which education authorities operate for the provision of free school meals. Authorities are aware of their responsibilities, and in making such arrangements it is for them to take into account questions surrounding the identification of pupils receiving free school meals.There are no immediate plans to conduct research into best practice in the provision of free school meals in other countries or into why children do not take up their entitlement to free school meals. We have, however, raised the matter of uptake with CoSLA and have agreed to further joint discussion with them about this.