KIDS MISS OUT ON EAT OUT SCHEME
PUPILS MUST PAY FULL PRICE FOR SCHOOL MEALS
Thousands of pupils are paying full price for school meals after education chiefs failed to sign up to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, the Express can reveal.
Youngsters who attend Renfrewshire’s 62 schools have not benefited from lunch money savings every Monday to Wednesday throughout
August as the council said it “was not possible” to set it up in time for schools opening on August 17.
However, the scheme was introduced in neighbouring council areas including East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire.
Renfrewshire’s lack of participation has been labelled “disappointing”, and calls have been made for the local authority to offer as much support to families as possible given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, more than 7,500 people in Renfrewshire are claiming unemployment benefits, with the local authority ranking as one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
Labour group leader Councillor Eddie Devine branded the council’s reasons for not getting involved as a “poor excuse”.
He said: “Pupils should have been given the opportunity to benefit from these things.
“I find it very strange that the council says that they did not have the time to implement the scheme in the schools when a lot of the other local authorities surrounding Renfrewshire have managed to do it.
“To say that they didn’t have time is just a poor excuse.
“People now more than ever need to make their money go further, especially as so many people are struggling just now.”
Renfrewshire is one of 16 other local authorities in Scotland which did not sign up for the Treasury scheme.
The UK Government introduced the scheme to help give the economy a boost, with the eligibility of schools giving families an opportunity to pay less for their child’s school meals.
It operates in schools as it does in other restaurants and bars, by offering a 50 per cent discount on food and drinks, up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner.
Children eligible for free school meals are unaffected and the discount only benefits parents who normally pay for their children’s canteen food.
Tory councillor for Paisley Nor theast and Ralston Neil Graham has called on Renfrewshire Council to explain to parents why their children missed out on the savings.
Mr Graham said: “The scheme has proven very popular and helped our hospitality industry get back on its feet following the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown.
“It was very pleasing to hear that the scheme could operate similarly in school canteens for pupils in the same way it does in our many wonderful pubs, cafes and restaurants in Renfrewshire.
“That is why it is so bewildering and disappointing that the council have not taken the opportunity to pass on the benefits to pupils as they returned to school this month.”
Renfrewshire Council stated that due to the increased work which had to be done to ensure pupils could return to school safely, council chiefs did not have the time to set up the scheme in schools.
A spokesman added: “Our teams worked tirelessly to ensure our schools were ready to welcome pupils and staff back safely and ensure a meal service was available for all pupils.
“We worked with other local authorities to identify how to implement this government scheme into our schools, but it was not possible to adapt our system in the timescale -especially while our teams were working to prepare the school.
“We are available to support families who are facing difficulties and school staff are available to discuss this with them at any time.”