HC Deb 24 July 1973 vol 860 cc521-2W
Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will estimate the number of school- November 1968 to the nearest available date.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

The figures requested are given in the following table:

England and Wales in November 1968 and each succeeding year to the latest available date.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Details of librarianship, including information science, students in the years 1968 to 1971 are as follows:

children eligible for free school dinners and express this as a percentage of the total number of children (a) eligible for free school dinners, and (b) in regular receipt of school dinners.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

On a day in October 1972, 850,000 pupils at maintained schools in England and Wales received free school dinners; at a rough estimate this is about 80 per cent. of those who might be eligible. Information about the take-up of meals is based on an annual return; details of the numbers and proportion of pupils who receive meals regularly, whether free or on payment, are not available.

I have no information about the take-up of meals in Scotland.