Scottish National Party parliament spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop claimed changes to the tax and benefit system would have left 6,500 children from low-income backgrounds without free meals.

She said the emergency legislation was proof that the Scottish Parliament should have power over tax and social security policy.

Scottish Executive ministers will introduce measure to close the loophole next week.

Low-income families

At present, children whose families receive income support, or an income-based jobseeker's allowance, are entitled to free meals, Ms Hyslop said.

But under new Westminster legislation that would be replaced by a working tax credit, or child credit, and about 6,500 children would lose the free meal entitlement, she said.

"Holyrood's lack of power has left thousands of children from low-income families facing the prospect of losing their right to free school meals," she said.

"Now, emergency legislation is having to be introduced to correct a mistake that would never have happened if we had control of our own tax and social security system."

An executive spokeswoman said: "This is a technical bill which seeks to close the loophole created by changes to the benefits system.