§ 13. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated increase in schoolchildren receiving school meals as a result of the coal miners' strike; and what is the estimated additional cost.
§ Mr. MonroI understand that applications from miners' families are being made and dealt with but detailed information is not collected centrally by reference to parent's employment.
§ Mr. EadieWill the Minister accept that the children of miners claiming school meals are getting their legal entitlement, and will he refute the suggestions of his back-benchers that the law requires 427 to be changed? Will he dissociate himself from the theory that has been expounded in his party that the way for Governments to win strikes is to try to starve the strikers into submission?
§ Mr. MonroI cannot accept what the hon. Gentleman has said. It is open to parents to apply for free meals for their children at any time if the family's fiancial circumstances change, for whatever reason.