Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the Scottish Government’s plans to extend free school meal provision to an additional 44,000 pupils in Scotland from August as the necessary regulations were brought before the Scottish Parliament. All pupils whose parents receive both maximum Child Tax Credit and maximum Working Tax Credit will become eligible for free school meals, meaning that low income parents in employment are not unfairly penalised. Further plans to provide all Primary 1 to Primary 3 pupils in Scotland with free school lunches will come into effect from August 2010, with the aim of encouraging healthy eating habits from a young age.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“In these difficult economic times it is important that the Scottish Government does all it can to support hard pressed families cope with the downturn. By extending eligibility for free school meals to a further 44,000 children across Scotland, families can expect to save an average of £9 per week per child, a sum that quickly adds up to a significant amount.
“As well as providing further financial relief for hard-working families in Banff & Buchan this measure will also help to encourage healthy eating in our children, the benefits of which can last a lifetime.
“I am delighted that the SNP Government is continuing to deliver for residents of Banff & Buchan and welcome the impact that this announcement will have on family finances and on children’s health and nutrition”.
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
