HC Deb 01 April 1971 vol 814 cc1656-7
11. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children takes school meals in the Inner London Education Authority area; what percentage is provided free; and what advice she has tended to local education authorities so as to avoid children knowing who pays and who does not.

Mrs. Thatcher

On a day in the autumn, 1970, 65.6 per cent. of the pupils present at maintained schools in the Inner London Education authority area took the school meal and 14.9 per cent. of those present received it free of charge. Paragraph 5 of Circular 3/71 reminded authorities again that the collection of the charge for school meals and the dining arrangements should be so organised that those who receive free meals cannot be identified by other pupils.

Mr. Jenkins

Does the right hon. Lady know how this matter is working out in practice? Will she institute inquiries to discover whether in fact this is being done without embarrassment to children and their parents? If she looks into the matter, she may find that the circular is not universally operated in a manner that is free from objection.

Mrs. Thatcher

We make inquiries into every case that is reported to us. Our information is that there will be very few such cases, but those which come to us are followed up because we are anxious that the children should not be identified.

Mr. Faulds

Is the Secretary of State aware that there is a young boy of 11 in my constituency who is illegitimate and who now refuses to go to school because he has to put up his hand to get a free dinner? He knows why and so do the other children. Has the right hon. Lady any comprehension of how much we on this side of the House despise and loathe a Government whose policies and priorities lead to that sort of human suffering?

Mrs. Thatcher

I am sure that both the previous Government and myself would condemn any such arrangement. I assume that the hon. Gentleman, the moment he heard of this matter, approached the headmaster, the chief education officer and the chairman of the education committee to deal with it.

Mr. Faulds

I shall be doing so. I received the letter only yesterday.