COUNCIL bosses are under fire after the number of Glasgow pupils buying school dinners dropped by 34% following a price hike.

The daily average number of children having school meals fell by 2266 over a nine month period last year.

Around 6652 youngsters a day bought a meal at school from January to March last year, compared to 4386 pupils a day from July to September.

It came after school meals increased by 20p in August last year, bringing the cost to £1.70.

School meals are currently provided by Cordia, Glasgow City Council’s arms length agency.

As the Evening Times revealed last May, the price of school meals will rise again by 20p this year.

It is part of a raft of cuts totalling £4.6million, announced last year, on top of the £24million from the previous year.

As well as school meals, savings have come from the free school travel allowance, reform of personalisation, childcare, addiction and homelessness services.

In a recent report, the managing director of Cordia said the price hike could have an impact on the number of cash customers at city schools.

The report said: “In August 2015, the price of each school meal rose from £1.50 to £1.70.

“This increase may have a potential impact on current uptake levels within primary and secondary schools.”

Glasgow has 38,496 primary pupils and 25,374 secondary pupils.

Pupils entitled to free meals - including all primary one to threes - are not affected by the price increases.

There are now calls for the situation to be investigated further.

SNP group leader Susan Aitken said: “It shouldn’t come as a surprise that increases in charging for services are often counter-productive, leading simply to a reduction in the numbers of people accessing important services.

“The SNP group would urge Cordia to investigate this further and if there is found to be a link between the price increase and the drop in school meal uptake, the price must be looked at again to ensure it remains affordable.

“In these difficult financial times for many, there are children who live in households whose income is just too high to qualify for free school meals, but for whom the provision of an affordable, nutritious meal at school is nonetheless a great help to a struggling household budget.”

A council spokeswoman defended the price increase and said they would work to encourage school meals.

She said: “Our school meal service is among the best in the country and at £1.70 for a nutritionally balanced meal, among the most cost effective in the country.

“There could be a number of factors for school meal uptake fluctuations – seasonal and personal choice for example – but we will continue to work with Cordia colleagues to promote and encourage school meals as the best choice for all.”

The Evening Times told on Saturday how talks are underway which would lead to the dismantlement of Cordia.

However, it is too early to tell how it might affect the provision of school meals.