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Much of the ground gained in widening access to free food has been lost, our research reveals.
The full extent of the Scottish government's failure to meet its free school meals target has been exposed by a new TESS survey.
From West Dunbartonshire Council scrapping universal free school meals in early primary to East Ayrshire Council abandoning its extension of free lunches to all P1 pupils, the survey shows that much of the ground the government gained in widening access to free meals two years ago has since been lost.
It also found that around a third of councils had abandoned policies such as universal free fruit for primary pupils (see panel).
In its 2007 election manifesto, the SNP pledged to deliver free meals for all P1 to P3 pupils. However, it later introduced flexibility, suggesting that councils could prioritise free school meals for children in the 20 per cent most deprived areas.
In August 2010, when councils were scheduled to introduce...