MSPs have been urged not to blight the future of a generation of schoolchildren by voting down plans to extend free school meals.

It emerged yesterday that technically the order being considered by MSPs in committee today would have a clear impact banning the extension of school meals.

Instead of being a political move throwing the decision back to hard-pressed councils, as most MSPs see it, the vote would mean an actual ban on extending free school meals even within those councils who have budgeted and voted for it.

Fiona Hyslop, Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: "This government has made it a priority to help children in their early years and this initiative does just that, providing every child with a free healthy school meal in their first years at primary school.

"A full, independent evaluation of the pilots has been conducted and that showed significantly increased uptake of school meals from 41% to 69% of those not previously entitled to a school lunch.

"We are confident that the merits of the policy have been well proven."

Spotting the danger, Labour moved last night to ensure its members would not stand in the way of the order. The Liberal Democrats were also heading the same way last night, leaving the Tories isolated in their opposition to the idea.

The Herald was told yesterday the law was clear. Any rejection of the government plans to extend free school meals for youngsters would not only give councils a way out if they felt they could not fund such a plan - it would ban those councils such as West Lothian which have taken the decision and set aside funding.