Motions, questions and answers

The eligibility criteria to qualify for free school meals is provided for in section 53 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. A summary of the criteria can be accessed from the Scottish Government website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/schoolmeals/FreeSchoolMeals. In addition, on 5 January 2015, free school meals were extended to all primary 1 to 3 children in local authority schools across Scotland to help ensure every child has the best possible start in life and gets every chance to succeed at school. The policy has had a huge uptake with latest figures showing that over 134,500 primary 1 to 3 children (81.7%) across Scotland now taking a nutritious free school lunch, saving families around £380 a year for each eligible child.
Local authorities must promote the uptake of free school meals amongst those currently eligible. Data on the numbers of children eligible for free school meals (outwith P1-3) is not held centrally.
The latest statistics on free school meals were published on 22 June 2016 in the Scottish Government Statistics Publication - Summary statistics for attainment, leaver destinations and healthy living, No. 6: 2016 Edition. Tables 7, 13 and 19 in the supplementary tables outline the number of children and young people in primary, secondary and special schools, respectively, registered and taking free school meals on census day by local authority level. The supplementary data tables can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/MealsSD/mealspesd/mealspesd2016.