PLEASE keep your letters to 250 words maximum giving your name, address and daytime telephone number - even on emails. Email: letters@swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Write: Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE. Phone: 01793 501806.

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

We need answers

Yet again, we have a party-political pitched battle over new proposals for the provision of free school meals (SA 15th Mar. page 4). Labour spokespersons claim that some (poor) children will be denied such meals; our Conservative MPs claim that more children will receive them. As your editorial states (page 12), they cannot both be right!

What a shame that half a page was devoted to the ‘battle of words’, without any hard facts. It would be helpful to know:

1. Who is, and who is not, currently entitled to free meals?

2. What are the criteria for determining this?

3. Who is, and who is not, going to be entitled under the new proposals?

4. What will be the criteria for determining these?

I hope we can look forward to being given this information in the near future.

Malcolm Morrison, Prospect Hill, Swindon

It’s getting serious

Theresa May is pushing Britain towards a serious conflict with Russia.

The dispute is about the assassination attempt on the Russian spy Sergi Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal.

The major political parties in Britain are all supporting Theresa May’s belligerent approach even though her actions are threatening world peace.

The exact origin of the nerve agent Novichok has not yet been established beyond reasonable doubt.

Talking and negotiation are the ways to sort out the problem that we have with Russia.

It should not be beyond the wit of our diplomats to find a settlement that is agreeable to both sides.

It was the philosophy of peaceful negotiation that got us safely through the Cold War with the USSR between 1947 and 1991.

During the 44 years of tension between Nato and the Warsaw Pact negotiations managed to stop the Cold War from breaking down and turning into are really dangerous violent conflict.

The maintenance of world peace should always be our top priority.

Steve Halden, Beaufort Green, Swindon

Spare a thought

As I looked out of my back door tonight the snow is thick on the lawn. My little Westie was let out to do his naturals. His brilliant white coat was surpassed by the beauty of the pure snow landing on my back garden.

Apparently, it will be gone in a few days, but it was a joy to experience the British climate in its unreliability. The clocks go forward shortly. Spring is in the air. Daffodils in bloom as well as the crocuses.

Let us all be thankful for small mercies on our little island. As I watch the daily news regarding what is going around us, I shed a quiet tear for the less fortunate than we are. When it comes to innocent women and children and animals suffering through no fault of their own, I am consumed with rage I do not use that expression lightly, at human folly that inflicts this nightmare on the innocent. 

Bill Williams, MerlinWay, Covingham