Scottish Socialist Party MSP Frances Curran has described as a "democratic outrage" a decision by the Scottish Parliament's Communities Committee to block the SSP's bill to provide every schoolchild in Scotland with a free nutritious meal each day.
The November 10 Scotsman reported that "Curran had hoped her Free School Meals Bill would begin its journey through Holyrood this year, but said it was thrown out on the grounds of lack of time".
Reacting to the committee's claim that there is not enough time to debate the party's Free School Meals Bill, Curran stated on the SSP website: "the decision has the fingerprints of Labour First Minister Jack McConnell all over it. I have not the slightest doubt that this is the work of a Scottish Executive running scared of an idea whose time has come. The bill has the support of scores of children's, educational and other bodies and the support of thousands of Scots. This crude blocking makes a mockery of the claims that Holyrood is an open democratic parliament and is a shameful denial of democracy."
Writing in the November 17 Scottish Socialist Voice, Curran attacked both the ruling Labour Executive and the opposition Scottish National Party: "Both are content to back bans on junk food in schools and pay for glossy TV ads and food Tsars but take cover when a concrete policy such as free school meals is up for discussion. Our job is to expose the hypocrisy behind the gagging of debate and continue to make the case for free school meals loud and clear."
[For more information on SSP's Free School Meals Bill, visit <http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org>].