MSP Holyrood motion commends Moray Council for free school meal commitment
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MORAY Council have been commended for their commitment to providing children with free meals outwith term-time.
SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Karen Adam, has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament, applauding the local authority for continuing to support youngsters with free meals during holiday periods.
The council recently made free school meal support payments directly into bank accounts for the February mid-term holidays.
Ms Adam said: “I am delighted to lodge this motion in the Scottish Parliament recognising the exemplary work of Moray Council.
“The leadership Moray Council has displayed in supporting our young people is something I hope other local authorities take note of.
“Ensuring nutritional food is accessible to our children is beneficial to their future outcomes, and supports the Scottish Government’s work toward closing the attainment gap, too.
“Hunger doesn’t take a holiday and neither does the SNP’s support in ensuring every child has access to good food.”
Buckie councillor Sonya Warren, who chairs the council's education committee, said that the importance of continuing free schoolmeal support over holiday periods "cannot be overstated".
She continied: “At a time when everyone is facing the cost of living crisis, its vitally important that those people that can least afford it are given support.
"The provision of free school meals is ever more necessary to our families.
“This has to be continued over the holiday period as many families are being put in the position of having to choose between eating or heating their homes. Many people are facing huge increases in household and utility bills, as well as reduction in Universal Credit and increases in National Insurance contributions, putting huge pressure on parents and families.
"The provision of free school meal entitlement over the holiday period will help to relieve this stress.
“The importance of free school meals to thousands of children cannot be overstated. It ensures every child, regardless of their circumstances, has access to a healthy, nutritious meal every day and by doing so helps them engage in class activities and learning, as well as removing the worry of where the next meal will come from.
“I know Karen Adam MSP recognises the importance of this provision and I am delighted that Karen has recognised Moray for the great work being done by our SNP council administration to enable this to happen.”
Ms Adam's motion reads: "That the parliament commends Moray Council’s reported decision to provide students with free school meals during the half-term break; recognises the positive impact that it considers free school breakfasts and meals play in tackling the attainment gap; believes that the UK’s reported cost of living crisis has had a profound impact on the finances of families in Moray and across the country, and considers that providing free school meals outside of term-time is a much-needed lifeline for many families facing a cost of living crisis."
