Plea to protect breakfast clubs

Ms Whitefield wants a guarantee breakfast clubs will not be axed

The Labour party has called on the Scottish Government to guarantee that breakfast clubs will not be cut as a result of its free school meals policy.

On a visit to a club in Airdrie, Karen Whitefield MSP said Labour supported the free school lunches legislation.

However, she called for assurances that other education services would not be axed in order for councils to fund it.

Some local authorities have raised concerns about the cost of providing free meals to all Primary 1-3 pupils.

Labour's children and early years spokesperson, Karen Whitefield, met with youngsters and staff at the St Dominic's Primary School breakfast club in Airdrie.

Labour is not against providing free school meals to additional children, but we want a guarantee this policy will not undermine breakfast clubs or other education services Karen Whitefield MSP

She said: "Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and we want to highlight the valuable contribution made by breakfast clubs in schools.

"They ensure children have the best start to the day, improve their learning experience and assist working parents with much needed child care."

She added: "Labour is not against providing free school meals to additional children, but we want a guarantee this policy will not undermine breakfast clubs or other education services, which could be cut to pay for this policy."

'Fully funded'

Last month North Lanarkshire Council's education convenor Cllr Jim Logue warned of cuts in other services if the council had to provide funding for free school meals.

He said: "It's simply not good enough to put the burden on local government.

"We may have to consider axing the council's breakfast clubs to pay for the SNP's policy."

But the Scottish Government said the policy was already fully funded, through the local government settlement, with £30m from 2010.