Tom Arthur, SNP MSP for Renfrewshire South, has welcomed new funding from the Scottish Government to expand early years childcare and free school meals across the area.
The First Minister announced in the Programme for Government that in this parliamentary year the Scottish Government will significantly invest to expand free school meals and provisions for early year care.
The funding will ensure that all primary school pupils receive a free school lunch – a vital step to eradicating child poverty in Renfrewshire South. This expands on existing measures that already see all Primary 1 to 5 pupils currently receive free school meals.
There will also be an expansion of support available for early years childcare to support more parents in Renfrewshire South to go back to work.
Commenting, Tom Arthur said:
“This investment from the Scottish Government will ensure that working families and struggling households across Renfrewshire South are supported through the Tory UK Government cost-of-living crisis.
“Under the leadership of First Minister Humza Yousaf, the Scottish Government has made it a national mission to eradicate child poverty. This move to expand free school meals to all primary school pupils during this parliament will go a long way to making sure this becomes a reality.
“Expanding free childcare will also be warmly welcomed by parents across Renfrewshire South. Supporting families with affordable and accessible childcare strengthens both employment and the economy.
“Supporting families through the Tory UK Government cost-of-living crisis is the Scottish Government’s main priority and expanding childcare and free school meals will help deliver that.”