Our next budget must prioritise free school meals

One of the Scottish Greens' proudest and most impactful achievements in government has been the expansion of free school meals to more children than ever.

- Lorna Slater, Scottish Greens MSP

Building on this progress is not just a moral choice, it is a practical strategy to tackle child poverty, reduce stigma and make sure every young person has the fuel they need to learn, grow and thrive.

In budget concessions won by the Scottish Greens, free school meals were initially extended universally to every child in Primary 1 to Primary 5, a milestone that has helped tens of thousands of families.

The ongoing phased expansion to older primary pupils and more recently to secondary pupils whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment shows what is possible when we put fairness and children's wellbeing at the centre of policy making.