§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue guidance to local education authorities about entitlement of children of people involved in industrial disputes to free school meals.
§ Mr. Allan StewartNo. The duties of education authorities in relation to free school meals, as set out in section 53 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, include the duty to consider in what circumstances free school meals should be provided for pupils other than those whose parents are in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene in the exercise of that duty.