Families across the Highland Council area have received more than £115,000 in support to clear historic school meal debt through funding from the Scottish Government.
New figures show that £115,748 has been used to help families in Highland pay off outstanding school meal balances built up before 31st of March 2024.
The support was provided through the School Meal Debt Fund, which was launched in May 2024 to help councils clear debt accumulated by families during the cost of living crisis.
Thirty local authorities across Scotland applied for assistance through the scheme.
The fund was introduced in response to concerns that school meal debt places financial pressure on families while also creating stigma for children.
Across Scotland the programme has supported more than 70,000 instances of assistance for families struggling with historic school meal debt.
In total the Scottish Government has invested nearly £2.9 million through the scheme.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd said the funding has helped remove a financial burden for families in the Highlands.
“Thanks to action taken by the SNP in government, fewer families in Highland are faced with the burden of school meal debt.
“School meal debt causes stress for families and can stigmatise children.
“It is therefore hugely welcome that £115,748 of support has been provided to clear debts in the Highland Council area.
“Providing free school meals is an important element of the SNP’s commitment to eradicating child poverty as the cost of essentials continues to soar under the UK Labour Government.
“Across Scotland, over 230,000 pupils are currently benefitting from free school meals, saving families around £450 per child, per year.
“The SNP Scottish Government Budget for 2026-27 makes provision for a further 5,500 pupils to receive free school meals, continuing our mission to give every child the best possible start in life.”
Free school meals have been expanded across Scotland in recent years as part of wider efforts to tackle child poverty and support families facing rising living costs.
The School Meal Debt Fund was specifically created to clear historic debts that had built up before the end of March 2024.
The Scottish Government said the initiative was designed to help remove financial pressures from families while ensuring that children are not affected by outstanding meal charges.
