A RALLY in Glasgow’s George Square today saw attendees demand free school dinners for all children and the eradication of meal debt.

The “Feed the Weans” campaign – a coalition of the STUC Women’s Committee, Together Against Debt, and Unite for a Workers’ Economy – is challenging Scotland’s local authorities over debts accumulated by some of the city’s most vulnerable households.

Unite for a Workers’ Economy organiser Claire Peden said: “We’re here on international school meals day to take our demands to the education and early years committee.

“Eradicate all school meal debt and provide school meals for all children in Scotland without means testing.

“Debt across Scotland stands at just over £1 million. It’s a drop in the ocean, and some local authorities have been writing it off themselves, such as East Renfrewshire.

“We’re asking that it be extended to all local authorities and they all write off that debt.”

Campaigners argued that some parents are unaware that their children are no longer eligible for free school meals until a substantial debt has arisen – an added burden families that could do without.

Together Against Debt Glasgow outreach co-ordinator Erin Browning said: “We’re here to call for the writing-off of all school meal debt.

“There’s about £68,000 owed across the city, and parents are already struggling with the cost of living crisis and we’re driving them into a further cycle of poverty – it needs to stop.”

Richard Bell, deputy leader of the council and city treasurer, Glasgow City Council said: “No child or young person in Glasgow’s schools has to go hungry.

“As the cost of living crisis continues to bite and burden households we’re responding with interventions with the resources available to us and working with the third sector to target needs that are wider than school meals.

“We will continue to deliver for our families.”