§ 42. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Education by what amount the cost of school meals is expected to increase by reason of the reduction in food subsidies; and what proportion of the additional cost will be imposed upon the parents of school children.
§ Miss HorsbrughI estimate that the additional cost due to the announced rises in the price of bread, flour and meat will be of the order of 0.68d. a meal, amounting to something over £1,500,000 in a full year. I cannot estimate the additional cost arising from the other proposals in the Budget until actual price increases and effective dates have been announced. Nor, for the present, can I say anything about the way in which the additional cost will be met.
§ Dr. BroughtonMay we have a definite assurance from the right hon. Lady that the Government will not increase the cost of school meals?
§ Miss HorsbrughNo; I certainly could not give that assurance. The hon. Gentleman probably knows that the first action that I took before discussing a rise in the price to the parents was to ask local authorities to see how much they could cut down the cost of overhead charges.