NEWS that school meal debt will be written off will be a 'huge relief' for families in West Dunbartonshire, the Scottish Government has said.

Ross Greer, the Scottish Green MSP for the West of Scotland, hailed the announcement and said it came as “welcome news” for people living in the local authority.

It comes after figures showed that over £1 million was owed by families across Scotland with £27,889.15 of that coming from West Dunbartonshire.

Ross Greer MSP said: “This is really welcome news for families in West Dunbartonshire and I am proud that we have delivered it with Scottish Greens in government.

“We know that young people struggle in school if they’re hungry or stressed by their family being chased for money they cannot afford to pay.

“Not only has chasing this debt caused anxiety and embarrassment for students and their families, I know that school staff hate being put in the position of asking pupils for money they know the family does not have.

“We are proud that 90,000 children in Scotland are being lifted out of poverty this year by Scottish Government policies like the £25 per week Scottish Child Payment, free bus travel for young people and an expanding programme of free school meals, all funded by the most progressive taxation system anywhere in the UK. 

“In stark contrast to what we see at Westminster, these are the actions of a government committed to building a fairer Scotland.”