Local authorities confirm free school meal payments being made during lockdown

FREE school meal payments are being made to qualifying families across Dundee during the new lockdown.

About 6,000 children will be covered by the scheme which is paying £27 per qualifying child for the period covering January 7-22.

Those eligible are nursery children included on a housing benefit/ council tax reduction claim and pupils in primary 1-3 who receive the school clothing grant.

Payments will be made for pupils from P4 to S6 based on free school meal entitlement.

Children and families services convener, Councillor Stewart Hunter, said: “I am pleased that this scheme is continuing, as I know this made a big difference to families across our city.

“We know the impact that these payments have made to many families.

“Several parents have been in touch with us to share their appreciation of this valuable support while schools are closed to most pupils.”

Meanwhile, more than 11,000 children across Fife will benefit from weekly cash payments of £11.50 in place of free school meals.

Fife Council hasconfirmed the direct payments will continue during remote learning.

Angus Council has also been making payments to eligible families and the local authority says these will continue during the current restrictions.

And in Perth and Kinross, the council has agreed direct payments would continue to families of children entitled to free school meals from the start of the term.

Councillor Stewart Hunter