Question reference: S6W-24010
- Date lodged: 18 December 2023
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 December 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance can be provided to local authorities to support families struggling with school meal debt.
Answer
School meal debt is ultimately a matter for local authorities in the first instance, and the Scottish Government expects them to use the powers available to them to support families struggling with school meal debt.
However, we recognise that we are currently in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis which is hurting families across the country. In that spirit, the Scottish Government intends to bring forward a one-off, emergency fund to support councils to help remove the impact of school meal debt on families.
It is our expectation that local authorities will implement COSLA’s guidance on school meal debt going forward.
Further details on the one-off fund will be brought forward in due course.