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Morning Call gets to the heart of the stories making the news.

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Morning Call: 05/01/2015

Louise White

05/01/2015

BBC Radio Scotland - Morning Call, 05/01/2015

Louise White asks listeners if they welcome free school meals for primary pupils.

Louise White asks listeners if they welcome the introduction of free school meals for every early years primary pupil.

Topic 1: FREE SCHOOL MEALS
All school children from primary one to three are now entitled to a free school meal, the Scottish government has announced. The £95m initiative is expected to save families at least £330 a year. SNP MSP George Adam said of today's roll-out: "That all P1-P3 children will be entitled to a free school meal is a major step forward," The policy has been supported by organisations including Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) Scotland. Mr Adam said the policy - for 135,000 children - would benefit pupils and their families alike. However critics have slammed the universality of the benefit and said that there are better things in schools to spend the money on such as tackling teacher numbers and classroom sizes.

Louise asks: Do you welcome the introduction of free school meals for every early years primary pupil?

Topic 2: FARMING
In the next few weeks, the Forestry Commission Scotland will announce the new tenants for a farm on 340 acres it has purchased in Achnamoine near Halkirk, in Caithness, this will be the eighth "starter farm" to be tenanted in the last two years, and will be followed by one in Moray and one in Tayside. Starter farms are a relatively recent development as Robin Waddell, FCS's agricultural advisor explains: "One of the reasons we are doing this is because the Scottish Government's land-use strategy and it's targets to help new entrants into farming agriculture." The scheme aims to help new farmers with their start-up costs and allow them compete, when a tenancy comes up with established farmers who already have subsidy entitlement.

Louise asks: What more can be done to encourage people into farming?

Also: A new survey charting the most popular 'bucket list' request has been published including seeing the Northern Lights, visiting the Grand Canyon and going on safari - we'd like to hear what's on yours?

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05/01/2015

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