Hunger doesn’t take a holiday - and neither can our support

Some have suggested that COVID-19 has been a great equaliser – but in reality, the burden of the pandemic has fallen disproportionately on low-income families, with many struggling to cover

the costs of basic essentials, including food. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how little financial security some families have – with disadvantaged children being among the worst

affected by this unprecedented crisis. Since March, levels of food insecurity have risen quickly amongst families with children and school closures have affected pupil’s learning, mental

health and well-being. Indeed, the Food Foundation estimates that 8% of Scottish families with children experienced food insecurity in the first 6 months of the pandemic. It was in this

context that the Scottish Government took the decision to extend free school meals to eligible children throughout the Summer, October and Christmas holidays, and will do so again over the

Easter holidays. We did this because we know hunger doesn’t take a holiday, and so neither can our support. > 🔥 @Dr_PhilippaW delivers stinging rebuke of Boris Johnson and > 

Westminster's need to be shamed again into supporting free school > meals for children. >  > 🍎 In Scotland under the SNP, over 175,000 children will benefit > from free 

school meals during the summer holidays. #bbcqt > pic.twitter.com/nrboMgsfDq >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) January 15, 2021 In November, the SNP pledged to go one step further. We know

that hungry children can’t learn to the best of their abilities and that school meals boost children’s energy, concentration, and behaviour, which leads to improvements in academic

attainment. Ensuring equal access to education is a central component of our commitment to tackling child poverty. That is why the SNP has made the bold commitment to provide free school

breakfasts and lunches to all primary school pupils in Scotland, all year round, if re-elected in May. The landmark policy would make Scotland the first UK nation to offer free primary

school breakfasts and lunches to every single child, all year round. I believe it is our duty to ensure all children start the school day with full stomachs, feeling settled and ready to

learn, no matter their start in life. In addition to the moral case for tackling child hunger, new research published today by Pro Bono Economics, in partnership with Magic Breakfast and

Heinz, demonstrates that school breakfast provision is also a cost-effective investment, which would have long term economic benefits for Scotland. The robust findings show that providing

children ages 6-7 with just one year of free school breakfast provision has the potential to generate long-term economic benefits of approximately £9,000 per child. > 🍎 Free school 

breakfast and lunches for all primary school > pupils, in all classes, all year round. >  > 🏫 Hunger doesn’t take a holiday and neither can we. If > re-elected next May, the SNP 

will expand free school meals to all > primary pupils so no child goes hungry at school. #SNP20 > pic.twitter.com/LrZYK5kU9y >  > — The SNP (@theSNP) November 28, 2020 This is

largely as a result of increased lifetime earnings for the children involved as well as reduced public service costs. Although the SNP’s commitment goes much further, even if only provided

to children age 6-7 attending schools with high levels of disadvantage across Scotland for one year, school breakfasts could generate a staggering £200 million in cumulative benefits for the

Scottish economy. For every £1 spent on school breakfast provision, a potential £50 could be generated for the economy – this is excellent value for money by anyone’s standards. Aside from

the statistics, Scottish teaching staff have clearly conveyed the importance of school breakfasts in their communities. I was heartened to hear that Magic Breakfast currently supports 38

schools in Scotland, including the high school I attended, Forrester High, to provide school breakfasts to children at risk of hunger. Staff there have described how breakfast has become an

essential part of the school day, improving children’s punctuality and behaviour as well as anxiety, with one staff member saying: ‘we could never imagine not having it.’ Investing in school

breakfasts is a win-win for Scotland. Our pledge to provide universal free school breakfasts and lunches to all primary pupils will help to tackle child hunger, support children in catching

up on the learning they have missed out on during COVID-19, and generate long-term economic benefits that will help our country recover from this unprecedented crisis.