Written Question · S3W-16723 · Session 3
What percentage of school pupils has benefited from the extension of the free school meals scheme.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school pupils has benefited from the extension of the free school meals scheme.
The answer
As yet there has been no extension to the free school meals scheme. There are two commitments in the concordat about extending entitlement to free school meals:
To extend entitlement to free school meals to all primary school and secondary school pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit from August 2009, subject to the necessary legislation being passed. This will benefit approximately 44,000 pupils.
Local authorities will provide free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010, subject to the necessary legislation being passed. This will benefit approximately 118,000 pupils.
Scottish Parliament support for legislation to enable these extensions to the free school meals scheme will be required.
To extend entitlement to free school meals to all primary school and secondary school pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child tax credit and maximum working tax credit from August 2009, subject to the necessary legislation being passed. This will benefit approximately 44,000 pupils.
Local authorities will provide free school meals to all P1 to P3 pupils from August 2010, subject to the necessary legislation being passed. This will benefit approximately 118,000 pupils.
Scottish Parliament support for legislation to enable these extensions to the free school meals scheme will be required.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-16723 by reference.