§ 6. Mr. Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the percentage of pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Wales who received free school meals in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. John Stradling ThomasBased on an annual census, the percentages of pupils present receiving free meals in primary schools in the maintained sector in each of the five years up to 1982 were 18, 15.4, 13.5, 17, and 535 19.6, respectively. The percentages for secondary schools were 14.2, 11.7, 8.8, 11.1 and 13.4, respectively. The figures for 1982 are provisional.
§ Mr. WardellDoes the Minister accept that the national figures hide disturbing increases in those eligible for free school meals in some education districts? For example, Gorseinon in my constituency had an increase of 30.87 per cent. in that figure between September 1981 and September 1982. Does he accept that, if that is so, part of the burden of the Government's poverty programme is falling on the poorest children in some parts of Wales?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasI reject the slogan of a poverty programme. That is no part of the Government's policies. Local education authorities in Wales are obliged by law to provide a midday meal free of charge only for pupils whose parents are in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement. Authorities which exercise their discretion to provide free meals more widely than that minimum criterion obviously add to their costs, but it is a reflection of their views of local needs and priorities, and they must be the best judges of those requirements.
§ Mr. ColemanIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the reported remarks of the director of education for mid-Glamorgan, who said that the county just could not cope with the number of requests that it was receiving for help and maintenance allowances? Does that not show an increase in poverty, and is it not incumbent upon local authorities faced with such a position to increase the allocation of resources to meet those needs? Is that not perhaps one reason for the increased expenditure of our local authorities?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasThat matter is entirely for the discretion of local authorities. They are the best judges of the local position, which will vary from one part of the Principality to another. They must make their decisions on the basis of local need, and that is a policy that the Government support.
§ Mr. AndersonDoes the Minister agree that the increase in the figures in several districts is disturbing? The Morriston education district in my constituency has the highest increase in the county at almost 75 per cent. from 1,161 in September 1981 to 1,945 in September 1982. Is not that figure one of the best indicators of the increase in poverty in south Wales? If the Minister agrees, what will he do about it?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasNo, I do not agree. The present planned provision will permit authorities to meet their statutory requirements. Furthermore, the change in the general policy supports the Government's view that the previous system was not meeting consumer demand. It is too simple to suggest that it is merely an outcome of recession or poverty. Pupils are choosing for themselves, and that is something of an advantage.