10 October 2008
A row has broken out over a free school meals policy after it was claimed that half of Scotland's councils cannot afford it.
The dispute followed a decision by the Scottish government to provide free school meals for all pupils aged between five and seven. The policy, due to be implemented from August 2010, follows a successful pilot scheme in Glasgow and a number of other councils. But Labour said it had found that 16 of the 32 councils involved would not be able to afford the scheme.
According to Labour, the policy could cost £50m a year. But Scottish National Party First Minister Alex Salmond contended that, assuming a 70% take-up, the bill would be £28.6m. Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said: 'It is clear that 50% of councils say they can't afford this policy without extra funds, including four councils with SNP members as part of the leadership.'
The concern over the school meals policy is seen as the first threat to a controversial concordat agreed between the SNP administration and Scottish councils. But Convention of Scottish Local Authorities president Pat Watters said the document had not been undermined. He added: 'We need to sit down with the authorities that say they have a problem and try to work it out.'
PFoct2008
