Cash summit on free school meals

An emergency meeting of council leaders has been called for Friday to discuss the government's plans for free school meals, BBC scotland has learned.

Councillor Pat Watters, the president of local government organisation Cosla, has asked council leaders to attend in order to work out a cohesive position.

It follows remarks by some councillors that they had no money to fund free meals for primaries one to three.

The funding of free meals was part the same agreement that froze council tax.

A letter from Mr Watters, which has been seen by the BBC, warns of serious consequences if councils fail to deliver the SNP government's programme of free school meals for classes one to three.

Mr Watters said he was surprised and concerned that individual councillors were publicly stating that they needed more money to implement it.

He said the money was allocated under the concordat with the government.

He wants council leader to check the facts with their directors of education before attending Friday's meeting.

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