THE UK Government's Education Secretary has suggested cutting school spending by £500 million and ending universal free meals for infants in England ahead of the Spring Statement.
Bridget Phillipson has also offered to axe funding for free period products in schools as well as dance, music and PE schemes as part of potential savings.
The controversial proposals are part of a package of measures being put forward by Phillipson as the Treasury prepares for Wednesday's spending review, with reports Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce £1.5 billion in cuts to the civil service budget.
According to The Times, Phillipson has suggested the schools budget be reduced from £64bn by around £500m in savings and efficiencies.
The Turing Scheme, which pays education providers across the UK to support students looking to study abroad, has also been offered up.
Other spending identified in the bottom 20% of lowest value for money included free school meals for infants in England.
The programme is currently universal, meaning all children in reception, year 1 and year 2 are eligible.
Government sources said Phillipson had suggested making it means-tested instead, as free school meals for older children already are.
Education is devolved in Scotland – all pupils in primary one to five receive free school meals, as well as those in P6 and P7 who receive the Scottish Child Payment.
Other suggestions from Phillipson included ending the provision of free period products to girls and women in schools, stopping the junior ISA for children in care and ending the subsidy that provides some parents with wrap-around childcare.
A Treasury source said: "We were anticipating there would be some game-playing. But the spending review remains vital to getting a grip on the public finances."
A Department for Education spokesman said: “This government has made significant additional investment in education across early years, schools, and colleges, alongside steps to stabilise the financial sustainability of universities.
“We will continue to support teachers and education leaders to use funding as efficiently as possible, while continuing to deliver better life chances for children and young people across the country through our ‘plan for change’.”
It comes as one of Labour's own MPs said the party cannot claim it is not bringing back austerity after the benefit cuts announced last week.
Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman said the decision will "impoverish" the most vulnerable and "shows a basic lack of humanity".
'Simply staggering'
The SNP have condemned the reports, saying that it will "send alarm bells ringing in Scotland".
The party's deputy leader in Westminster, Pete Wishart, said: "Reports that the Labour Government is planning billions of pounds of austerity cuts to public services, and could even end universal free school meals for infants, will send alarm bells ringing in Scotland and it shows the Labour Party can't be trusted to protect families.
"The news that even more cuts are on their way will concern families across the UK – and it is simply staggering that the Labour Government Education Secretary would even consider slashing free school meals.
"If the Labour Party imposes cuts to public services in England, it will also hurt public services in Scotland as a result of the knock-on impact of squeezing the Scottish Government's budget. Keir Starmer must listen to voters and think again.
"These damaging Labour Party cuts are a warning sign to voters ahead of the Scottish Parliament election next year. They show the Labour Party can't be trusted to keep its promises – and they underline the value of a progressive SNP Government that is protecting families by expanding free school meals, increasing free childcare, and delivering vital support including the Scottish Child Payment and baby box."
