Highland school meal debts totalling nearly £116,000 written off by Scottish Government in move Scottish Greens say was secured by them while part of former coalition government
Hard-up Highland families struggling to pay for their children’s school meals have had those debts written off.
Scottish Greens have hailed the news that almost £116,000 in school meal debt in the area has been forgiven, in a move that follows years of campaigning by the party and which they say was secured by them during their time as part of the former coalition government.
The £116,000 in written-off debts in the Highlands are part of a wider deal to axe arrears totalling nearly £2.9m across 29 council areas in Scotland through a national fund.
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Highland MSP Ariane Burgess and Highland councillor Chris Ballance have hailed the news after the party first brought the issue to attention in 2020 when research published by the Greens revealed that more than £1m in school meal debts were owed across Scotland amid a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
That figure then rose markedly in subsequent years amid rocketing inflation.
Welcoming the scrapping of the debt, Councillor Chris Ballance said: “We know there are children in the Highlands whose parents can’t afford to send their children to school – whether it’s for the one day a week when there’s PE, because they can’t afford the PE kit, or because they are in debt over school dinners, or other financial issues. Wiping out this debt will make a huge difference to these parents.
“I would like to see us return to the days when free school meals were available for all – so that every child in our community gets at least one good, nutritious, meal a day.”
Ariane Burgess added: “I have heard first hand from local teachers who dreaded the thought of having to chase their pupils for debt, and from parents who felt the stress of falling into debt.
“It’s obvious that children cannot learn effectively if they are hungry or stressed and embarrassed by their family finances. “That’s why I worked during the Greens’ time in government to wipe this debt out. Behind today’s news there are struggling families across the Highlands who have been given a bit of much needed financial relief.
“The Scottish Greens have always championed free school meals. We secured the expansion to all Primary 4 and 5 pupils and the upcoming rollout to P6 and P7 children who receive the Scottish Child Payment.
“Cancelling this debt was an important measure and we are proud to have delivered it, but we will continue to pressure the Scottish Government to expand the number of children eligible for a free meal in the first place.”
Confirming that £2.8m in school meal debt has been written off, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister launched a fund to support councils to remove the impact of school meal debt on families in May 2024. We subsequently increased the funding available to £2.8 million in December, enabling all local authorities who applied to receive the full amount of their bids.
“We are pleased that 29 out of 32 local authorities applied for this funding and will mean families across Scotland benefit from this support.”