Politics · United Kingdom · 10 hrs ago
Scottish government schoolbags for new pupils to be made in China
The Scottish government says schoolbags for new Primary One pupils will be made in China.
The bags are part of a £6.5 million free-schoolbag promise made by First Minister John Swinney before a Holyrood election.
They will be made in Chinese workshops and filled with items such as pencils and rulers sourced from Europe and Britain.
Critics say awarding the contract abroad could leave Scottish manufacturers out, while one local bag maker said firms paying higher wages cannot compete with the expected price of less than £5 per bag.
A Reform MSP has also called for assurances that the bags are not made using child labour.
The scheme is due to begin next August, but the source gives no further details about the contract or any response to the concerns.
Schoolbags promised to all new Scottish Primary One pupils will be manufactured in China, according to the Daily Mail.
The bags will be filled with school supplies, including pencils and rulers sourced from Europe and Britain.
The scheme was a £6.5 million pre-election promise by First Minister John Swinney.
Critics say the contract should have gone to Scottish businesses and raised concerns about possible child labour.
The government’s response to the criticism is not included in the source.
- Who
- The Scottish Government, led by First Minister John Swinney, is providing the bags. A Chinese contractor will manufacture them.
- What
- Free schoolbags will be given to new Primary One pupils. The bags will be made in China and filled with school supplies.
- When
- Swinney announced the scheme a month before the May Holyrood election. The report was published on 24 October 2026.
- Where
- The bags will be manufactured in China and distributed to new pupils in Scotland.
- Why
- The source says the contract went to a cheaper Chinese contractor. It does not state the government’s reason for choosing the contractor.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Swinney announced that free schoolbags would be given to Primary One children from the following August.
The Daily Mail reported that the bags would be manufactured in China.
- Scheme cost
- £6.5 million
- Recipients
- All new Scottish Primary One pupils
- Bag manufacturing
- China
- Bag contents
- School products such as pencils and rulers from Europe and Britain
- Reported publication date
- 24 October 2026
What people are saying
This is a blatant betrayal of Scottish firms from a government with a long and shameful record of choosing Chinese contractors over Scottish ones.
Scottish taxpayers’ money is being used to prop up Chinese industry while our own is left to wither and rust.
It’s a real shame. It’s a huge order and would have been great for a Scottish company.
The Government won’t be prepared to pay more than £5 each for one of these backpacks.