Glasgow school meal debt write off would be 'significant step forward'

A plan to write off school meal debt in Glasgow would be a “significant step forward”, the union behind a ‘Feed the Weans’ campaign has said.

Activists from Unite the union joined with the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Together Against Debt campaign to protest outside Glasgow city chambers earlier this month.

They called for an end to means-based ‘free’ school meals, school dinners for all children in Glasgow and the eradication of school meal debt.

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Next week, Cllr Christina Cannon, SNP, the council’s education convener, will present a motion asking councillors to agree to write off debt, estimated to be around £300,000.

It also asks for policies to be updated — in line with Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) guidance — to “ensure that no child is denied food in school, regardless of ability to pay at the time of eating”.

Cllr Cannon’s motion states addressing food insecurity and hunger has been a “priority” for the council, including investing millions of pounds in a holiday food programme.

Councillors will be asked to recognise the impact of the cost of living crisis, inflation and Brexit on food insecurity in Glasgow.

“Adequate nutrition is vital to allow our young people to reach their full potential and that the nutritional value of school meals is equally important in supporting our young people to make healthier choices,” Cllr Cannon adds.

A health and well-being census for 2021/22 found nearly 60% of pupils at least sometimes went to bed or school hungry, while 3% said they always go to bed hungry.

The motion welcomes Unite’s ‘Feed the Weans’ campaign, as well as Debt Justice’s ‘Together Against Debt’ campaign, and asks the council to “write off current levels of school debt held centrally”.

It adds reserves would be used to “write off debt held locally, where that debt is over and above the equivalent of one month’s worth of meals”.

Unite senior organiser Joe Rollin said: “The level of food poverty in Glasgow is absolutely shameful.

“‘Unite for a Workers’ Economy’ has been campaigning for an end to means testing and school meals debt. If this happens it would be a really significant step forward for families.

“We will now look to Glasgow City Council to end means-testing and ensure all children get a ‘free’ school dinner.”

Cllr Cannon’s motion states Glasgow has been leading in Scotland on “extending free school meals to primary 4 and readying the education estate for future extensions to school meals”.

She will ask councillors to reiterate a commitment “to expand free school meals to all primary school pupils when funding from the Scottish Government is received” — and express “regret that this funding continues to be delayed”.

A council spokesman added the cost of living crisis has “exacerbated deep-rooted challenges around child poverty which the council has long been committed to tackling”.

“Glasgow was the first local authority to expand universal free school meals to P4 children ahead of the national roll-out — and more than two million meals and snacks have been served as part of the pioneering holiday food and activity programme since its introduction five years ago.”

He added: “At present, more than 50% of Glasgow families are entitled to free school meals and, from August, P6 and P7 pupils will receive free school meals if their family receive the Scottish Child Payment.”

COSLA good practice principles highlight that schools can use their funding to write-off school meal debt and provide extra free school meals for those “who may not meet the national eligibility criteria”, the motion adds.

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