⁍ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing to hand councils extra money for holiday clubs, aiming to end a row over free school meals.

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⁍ Johnson is studying a proposal to extend the Holiday Activity and Food programme piloted during the summer so children can be provided with at least one free meal a day outside term time.

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⁍ Some 1.3 million children are eligible for free lunches at schools in England.

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– The British government has been in a bit of a tiff with a professional soccer player over free school meals. Marcus Rashford, a 20-year-old who plays for Manchester United, has been pushing for free lunches for kids during school breaks. The government, however, has voted not to do the same during a weeklong school break at the end of October as it did during summer school breaks, the Telegraph reports. The government is now considering extending the free meals program to the summer and winter holidays, at a cost of about $256 million a year. Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended the government’s decision Monday, calling Rashford’s efforts “terrific” and saying, “We will do everything in our power to make sure that no kid, no child goes hungry this winter during the holidays.” But some businesses and charities did offer free lunches to kids Monday, Reuters reports. The Telegraph notes that some 1.3 million kids are eligible for free lunches at schools in England. The government gave families food vouchers for the summer school holiday following a campaign by Rashford to provide extra support during the coronavirus crisis. But last week it voted not to do the same during a weeklong school break at the end of October. The government’s decision has put pressure on Johnson, who defended the government on Monday. “We will do everything in our power to make sure that no kid, no child goes hungry this winter during the holidays,” he said, describing Rashford’s efforts as “terrific.”