Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Bill

# Education (School Meals) (Scotland) Bill The provision of free school meals to primary school pupils has been a longstanding policy objective in Scotland, reflecting concerns about child nutrition, food poverty, and educational attainment. This bill aimed to establish a legal entitlement to free school meals for all pupils in primary education, making statutory what had previously been a matter of policy implementation. The legislation responded to evidence that access to nutritious meals during the school day can improve children's health, concentration, and learning outcomes, while also reducing inequalities for families facing financial hardship. The bill introduced a statutory duty on local authorities to provide free meals to all primary school pupils, while also setting out nutritional standards that meals must meet. It gave the Scottish Parliament the power to extend free meal provision to other stages of education through secondary legislation, providing flexibility for future expansion. The bill represented a shift from discretionary provision to a legally enforceable entitlement, backed by additional funding to local authorities to cover the costs of implementation. This legislation formed part of the Scottish Government's broader anti-poverty strategy and commitment to universal public services.

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