Boost for hard-up households

Campaigners have welcomed budget commitments agreed between the Scottish government and Scottish Greens.

The deal includes two further £100 payments for children in receipt of free school meals, following on from winter and spring payments this year, as well as a new pandemic support payment of £130 to households receiving council tax reduction.

Resources are also committed to rolling out free school meals to all primary school pupils.

Finance secretary Kate Forbes said the plans could pave the way to a "fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland".

The minority SNP government needs the backing of at least one other party to pass its tax and spending proposals - but has a comfortable majority with the five Green and five Lib Dem MSPs on board.

Forbes said discussions with all parties had been "positive" and that she hoped all MSPs would back the budget.

John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, the measures will help boost the incomes of hard up parents as well as reduce the costs they face.

He added: “We can’t let poverty blight any of our children’s life chances so this needs to be the start not the end of putting in place the cash support families so desperately need.

“In delivering these new payments local and national government must also find ways to support hard up families who may fall through the eligibility gaps, and looking ahead substantial increases to the new Scottish child payment are still urgently needed.”

Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said he was "delighted that once again our constructive approach has delivered real results for the people who need it most."