Thousands more children will be entitled to free meals

The School Meals Bill was brought forward by the Scottish Executive as emergency legislation and was agreed unanimously by MSPs on Wednesday.

However, attempts by the Scottish Socialists and the Greens to provide free school meals to all children were defeated.

The Scottish National Party also had a bid rejected by the executive to give free school meals to more children from poor families.

The SNP's education spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop said she was "aghast" that the executive would not support the proposal.

'Unnecessary' move

Liberal Democrat MSP Euan Robson said that free school meals for all was "unnecessary and unaffordable".

The school meals legislation was brought about by changes in state benefit regulations.

An estimated 6,500 schoolchildren in Scotland could have lost out if the loophole was not closed.

Their entitlement to free school meals was linked to the old system of income support and jobseekers allowance, but would not have been carried over to the new tax credit system.

The Scottish Executive said the emergency legislation would ensure that no child entitled to free school meals will lose out.

The bill also extends free meals to another 7,000 pupils, including the children of full-time students.

It has been estimated that this would cost the executive about �3m if there was a full take-up of the new entitlements.

Heated debate

SSP leader Tommy Sheridan introduced a fresh amendment on Wednesday for free school meals for all, but it was thrown out by 93 votes to seven following a heated debate.

Mr Sheridan said that the Bill approved by MSPs would mean 100,000 children whose parents are on low income would be denied free school meals.

"That's why those of us on this side of the house believe you are not serious about tackling child poverty," he said.

Mr Sheridan said the money it would cost to introduce free school meals would be "a small drop in the ocean" and would improve the health of youngsters in Scotland.

Scottish Lib Dem backbencher Mike Rumbles said Mr Sheridan's idea was the "economics of the madhouse".

He added: "What they would do is put �200m into this scheme when the kids themselves are not taking the issue up. It would be a massive waste of scarce resources."