Appeal to write off cash owed

Writing off thousands of pounds owed by hard-pressed parents for school meals would help families struggling with the cost of living crisis, a Monklands MSP has claimed.

Gillian Mackay is calling on North Lanarkshire Council to scrub £28,011 that remains outstanding for school dinners.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Central Scotland MSP’S Scottish Greens party found that, across Scotland, almost £1 million (£968,000) was owed in unpaid school meals fees, and more than £28,000 of that was in North Lanarkshire.

The majority of that, £27,964, was an outstanding debt owed for children at primary schools. That’s despite all P1 to P5 across Scotland now being entitled to free meals.

The Scottish Greens MSP praised the council for ensuring that school children receive a meal at lunchtime regardless of a family’s ability to pay but believes that the local authority must help relieve some of the stress of the increasing financial pressure being placed on families.

“Children can’t get a good education if they’re hungry at school,” said Ms Mackay.

“I believe that North Lanarkshire Council rightly ensures every pupil has a meal at lunchtime, even if they don’t have the money to cover it, but these figures make it clear that debts are being chased from families who simply can’t pay.

“With the cost of living crisis putting huge pressure on family finances, this is the right time to write off all outstanding school meal debt.

“Pursuing the debt is causing stress and embarrassment for pupils and their families but I know that staff are deeply uncomfortable asking pupils for money they know the family does not have.

“I’m proud that as a result of the co-operation agreement between the Greens and SNP, we are rolling out free school meals to all primary school children, as well as taking other measures to help family budgets such as free bus travel for under 22s.

“Writing off this debt would be an excellent way for North Lanarkshire Council to also help families with the financial burdens they face, rather than add to them.”

North Lanarkshire Council say families who may be struggling financially can get in touch with them for advice and assistance.

A spokesperson said: “Child poverty is a priority for us and no child should go without a meal, which is why we have initiatives such as Club 365 in place. We would treat any debt with the utmost sensitivity and discretion and never refuse any child a meal.

“We offer a wide range of support to families who are struggling. This includes helping to complete free school meal application forms and ensuring people are claiming all the benefit they are entitled to through our Financial Inclusion Team.

“Our groundbreaking Club365 programme will be running throughout the Easter break, providing free activities and food for eligible primary pupils, and our school meal voucher initiative helped thousands of families at the height of the pandemic.”

The FOI revealed that South Lanarkshire Council had the third highest amount of school meals debt of all local authorities in Scotland with £107,847, behind only North Ayrshire Council (£141,528) and Aberdeen City (£114,690).

The South Lanarkshire authority also has a policy of always providing a meal to any pupil who presents without funds.

Huge pressures Gillian Mackay MSP believes the council must help with the financial stress many families are currently going through due to the cost of living crisis