Free school breakfasts for some Year 7s not affordable - Drakeford

A scheme providing free school breakfasts for some Year 7 pupils will not be returning

Mark Drakeford has said Wales cannot afford to continue to give free school breakfasts to certain pupils.

A pilot scheme, which began in September 2020, gave Year 7 pupils eligible for free school meals an extra £1 for a breakfast.

The scheme, which came to an end last July, was introduced in 45 schools across Wales at a cost of £450,000.

The first minister said he was "very disappointed" that the government was not able to extend the programme.

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Mr Drakeford told MSs on Friday that the scheme was a "success" and led to children "not having to choose between using the money they had for breakfast or for lunch".

But he went on to say: "I'm afraid that we're not going to be in a position to extend it."

Mark Drakeford said he was "very disappointed" that the government wasn't able to extend a programme

"I'm very disappointed with that, because I thought it was both a very good thing to do and I think that the success of it was demonstrable," he said.

All primary school children in Wales who attend a school maintained by the local authority can have a free breakfast at school if their school provides free breakfasts.

The Welsh government is also in the process of rolling out free school meals for all primary school children as part of its cooperation agreement with Plaid Cymru.

Ministers will set out their spending plans for the next financial year on 19 December.

However the government has already warned that it faces its "toughest" financial situation since the beginning of devolution in 1999.