A working group to tackle malnutrition promised by the Scottish Government a year ago is yet to meet, we can reveal.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd announced the committee in October last year in the face of mounting evidence the cost-of-living crisis is leaving thousands of families unable to eat properly.
NHS Glasgow and Clyde have said the number of children accessing acute medical facilities due to malnutrition has rocketed from 572 to 1000 in just one year.
And a poll of teachers in July found schools across Scotland are seeing more than one-third of pupils turn up for class without having eaten.
However, despite the shocking statistics, the malnutrition “short life working group” is yet to be convened, while a promised pilot of free school meals in secondary schools has also not begun.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “Everyone, including the First Minister’s own party, are now agreed that free school meals should be urgently rolled out to all schoolchildren, no matter their age.
“With every day of inaction, more children are going hungry. This is really serious but the Government has no sense of urgency.
“We have been told a pilot scheme will be set up but there are no details of where, when or how much funding has been set aside.
“Now we find that a working group to investigate malnutrition has not even met yet, a year after being announced. It is just not good enough.”
Todd told the Scottish Parliament on October 26, 2021, that she would “convene a short life working group to develop a framework for the prevention of malnutrition”.
It is understood the emergency group could finally meet in the next week for the first time. SNP members, meanwhile, heaped pressure on Sturgeon to take action and extend free school meals to secondary school children at their party conference in Aberdeen earlier this month.
Delegates backed a motion calling for the Government to introduce the emergency measure as quickly as possible.
Teachers, trade unions and education experts have warned thousands of children are going hungry due to the cost-of-living crisis.
A simple and effective way of combating the problem is to guarantee a free meal to any child who wants one in school.
By making the policy universal, the stigma is removed for pupils whose parents are struggling to make ends meet.
The Sunday Mail has been campaigning for free school meals for all children in a move which has attracted the support of Scotland captain and Liverpool star Andy Robertson, who funds measures to fight poverty.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport announced the convening of a short life working group to make recommendations on a framework for the prevention of malnutrition and dehydration.
“The group is currently arranging a suitable date to meet at the earliest opportunity.”
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