A SCOTS council has issued an apology after an email emerged "falsely" claiming that children who have school dinner debts of £10 or over would get tap water instead of milk or juice.

East Dunbartonshire council has responded to concerned residents on social media saying a message circulated about the controversial 'policy' was issued in error.

It also indicated that children would not get hot meals.

The council is now looking into how the message was set, and have said there was "no truth" that any policy to deal with debts is even being considered.

The message which sent to parents of at least one primary school and received said: "We have been advised by East Dunbartonshire's Facility Management team that the following procedure will now be put in place if any child accrues a debt of £10 or over on their cashless catering account...

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"A letter will be generated and sent home from the school. In the meantime the child will receive soup and sandwiches, no milk or juice just tap water, until the debt is services. Any larger debts will be passed to the council to deal with.

"Please check your child's schoolbag for any letters regarding cashless catering."

The council responded to concerns on social media saying: "Hi all, thanks for getting in touch. The council's depute chief executive, education, people and business, Ann Davie would like to apologise for any upset and confusion this communication may have caused. It has been issued in error.

"The council will always ensure that children will receive a meal at lunchtime and they will continue to have access to the full range of menu options."

The council has been asked whether the policy is in force and has not yet responded.

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Amy Callaghan, the SNP parliamentary candidate for East Dunbartonshire has written to Ms Davie to raise concerns about what was on the circular.

"The concerns, which I share, are around the fact that any child in this situation will be singled out as having debt and will be fed soup, sandwiches and 'only tap water' until the situation is resolved.

"Children in schools throughout East Dunbartonshire should not be singled out as disadvantaged or impoverished. "Given the high levels of austerity inflicted upon Scotland including in East Dunbartonshire, it is deeply reprehensible for East Dunbartonshire Council to single out any child whose family may be struggling.

"Should measures need to be introduced to address debt concerns, this should be with a pupil's well-being at its core, not to the detriment of any child in East Dunbartonshire."

A council spokesman said: "All children will continue to receive a meal at lunchtime and they will continue to have access to the full range of menu options (not just soup and sandwiches and they won't be limited to just water)."

In May parents out at controversial school lunch payment system in the council area which saw schools store children's fingerprints despite there being no guarantees the data will be kept secure.

Youngsters attending high schools in East Dunbartonshire were asked to supply their fingerprint in order to gain access to a fund set up by their parents or guardians to allow them to purchase snacks and meals throughout the school day.

However, a letter sent out to mums and dads confirmed while East Dunbartonshire Council will do "everything it can" to minimise data breach risks, "no computer system can be guaranteed as 100 per cent secure" - prompting outrage from parents.

The system is becoming more popular across Scotland, despite fierce criticism from campaigners such as Big Brother Watch, who described the rise of its popularity as "alarming".

Angus, East Ayrshire, Edinburgh and West Lothian were at that time already opting for fingerprint payments due to its ease and speed at the tills.