Planned investment in production facilities for free school meals: FOI release

Information requested

What is the planned investment in production facilities this year to cope with the increase in school meals warranted by the roll out of universal free school food?

Response

The answer to your question is the Scottish Government's draft budget for 2022-23 has included £42.2 million for local authorities to provide universal free school lunches during school term-time for all children in primaries 4 and 5. This is in additional to the £53 million for local authorities to provide universal free school lunches for all children in primaries 1 to 3.

In addition, the 2022-23 draft budget also includes a £30 million capital allocation for initial investment in school kitchens ahead of roll-out of free lunches to all primary school children (from primaries 1 to 7) later in the parliamentary term.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.