Humza Yousaf has been challenged to speed-up the roll-out of free school meals for all primary pupils.
The delay in the roll-out has been blamed on the time needed to install adequate infrastructure in all schools. He told the Record: "We have been able to do that due to the £270m investment we have made in our school estate over the last 15 years and by prioritising our budget to support families. Yousaf last week said the next phase of the expansion will see those in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment receive free lunches, and it is hoped that will be rolled out in the "next year".
Scottish politics "As set out previously, this will be a two-stage process that will see free school meals first extended to pupils whose families are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment, before then extending to all children in primary school during 2026.