SCOTTISH Borders Council is to apply to a new government fund to clear more than £6,000 in school meals debt, it has emerged.

First Minister John Swinney said the cash pot would help ­ensure no child was penalised for struggling to pay as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

It also hopes to ease the financial impact on councils currently facing tough budget decisions.

Local authorities can bid to receive cash from the one-off £1.5 million Scottish Government fund.

At a meeting of full council last week, councillor Annette Smart, SNP representative for Hawick & Hermitage, raised a question on the level of school meal debt in the Borders.

It emerged that £4,725 worth of debt was written off in 2023/24 and that the current level of the same debt for this financial year so far stands at £1,675.

Councillor Leagh Douglas, the council’s executive member for education and lifelong learning, confirmed that colleagues in the finance department would be applying for these debts to be cleared.

Cllr Smart responded: “It is good news that the debt is so low and it is good to know we will be applying to get that money back as every penny saved counts.”

Announcing the opening of the fund, Mr Swinney said: “As First Minister, my ambition is to eradicate child poverty – and today I am pleased that we are continuing progress to ensure that no child or their family is penalised for struggling to pay for a school meal during a cost-of-living crisis they did not create.

“School meal debt can have a real impact on the wellbeing of families and can serve to stigmatise children whose families are going through challenging times. Local authorities can now bid to receive funding from a one-off Scottish Government fund which will support them to remove the impact of school meal debt.”