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.Did you know you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to our daily newsletter?We send a morning and lunchtime newsletter covering the latest headlines every day.We also send coronavirus updates at 5pm on weekdays, and a round up of the week's must-read stories on Sunday afternoons.Signing up is simple, easy and free.You can pop your email address into the sign up box above, hit Subscribe and we'll do the rest.Alternatively, you can sign up and check out the rest of our
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