John Swinney confirmed the Scottish Government will not be able to deliver free school meals to all primary school pupils by 2026.

The First Minister said that the budget had been eroded by successive Westminster governments and it would not be possible.

He was asked by Douglas Ross, Conservative leader, during First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood.

READ NEXT: Abortion protest buffer zones to be in place within weeks

Ross had asked if the Scottish Government would deliver on its commitment to give free school meals to all primary pupils by the end of the current parliament.

Swinney said free school meals would be available for all children in primary 1 to 5 and those in P6 and P7 who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.

He added: “We will not be able to roll out eligibility on a universal basis to all P6 and P& pupils”.

The First Minister said the reason was the Scottish budget had been eroded by the UK Government.

He said the “cumulative effect of inflation was 18.9% over two years".

This he said was the result of actions of a Conservative Government that Douglas Ross supported.

READ NEXT:Masterplan to breathe new life into historic Glasgow area

The Scottish Greens also condemned the decision to scrap the commitment to free school meals for all pupils.

Lorna Slater, Greens co-leader, said the commitment was secured by the Greens when they were partners in government.

She said “as soon as the Greens are out of the room the Scottish Government ditches the policy.

Swinney responded that the government was dealing with the “persistence of the austerity agenda” he said he thought he “had seen the back of with the Tory Government”.

The First Minister added the government was “having to find £800m to meet public sector pay claims.”

He said that money would increase wages and family incomes lifting people out of poverty.

He added: Incomes are increasing because of above-inflation pay deals. We can’t spend that money twice” adding We are still bound by the shackles of austerity”.