§ 8. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the latest figures available for the numbers (a) taking school meals and (b) receiving free meals in Liverpool; and how these compare with those in 1979.
§ Dr. BoysonThe returns from the school meals census for autumn 1981 show that 37,960 pupils in Liverpool took a school meal, of whom 21,523 received them free. The comparable figures for 1979 were 50,075 and 19,874.
§ Mr. ParryIs not that reply disturbing? Is the Minister satisfied that all children in Liverpool who need school meals are receiving them? Is he further satisfied that the price of meals is not being taken out of the reach of the pockets of some of the larger families in Liverpool? Does the Minister agree that it is desirable that all schoolchildren should receive midday meals?
§ Dr. BoysonLocal authorities have to give free meals to children whose parents are on supplementary benefit or who receive family income supplement. They can go further if they wish. Liverpool goes further, so I presume that it is covering all children in Liverpool who require free meals.
§ Mr. FreudWill the Minister accept that identification of children who receive free meals has always been undesirable? The next time that the Minister meets the unions, will he make it clear that identification of children who receive free meals is very much against the public interest?
§ Dr. BoysonI take the point raised by the hon. Gentleman. Ever since I was first involved in teaching 30 years ago the problem of how not to identify children receiving free meals has been discussed by teaching unions. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that schools should do everything possible to stop direct identification.
§ Mr. GreenwayIs my hon. Friend aware that recently I had a school dinner in St. Saviour's school, Toxteth, as did most of the children? Is he further aware that it was an excellent dinner that fitted the children to play an energetic game of soccer afterwards? Will my hon. Friend recommend school meals to all other children?
§ Dr. BoysonI thought that my hon. Friend was about to recommend to the House the school meals in Liverpool. It is a long way to go for lunch every day. I have noticed an improvement in the health of my hon. Friend, so the credit for that must be given to the Liverpool school.