§ 172. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of children allowed free meals in school in Wales county by county and as a percentage of the school populations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe numbers of pupils receiving free meals in school and the percentages of the total numbers in schools in each local education authority in Wales which these represent are as follows:
Number of pupils receiving free meals Percentage of total numbers in the schools Counties: Anglesey … 1,589 15.4 Breconshire … 988 11.2 Caernarvonshire … 3,602 20.0 Cardiganshire … 1,011 11.1 Carmarthenshire … 2,521 10.2 Denbighshire … 3,417 11.7 Flintshire … 1,974 6.5 Glamorgan … 11,306 9.1 Merioneth … 687 12.0 Monmouthshire … 4,638 7.5 Montgomeryshire … 453 6.3 Pembrokeshire … 2,192 12.6 Radnorshire … 228 7.7 County Boroughs: Cardiff … 6,089 13.0 Merthyr Tydfil … 1,376 15.0 Newport … 1,679 8.2 Swansea … 3,325 12.4
§ Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of children in Swansea, and of the number of children in Wales, who will cease to purchase school dinners as a result of the price increases announced by the Government.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe numbers who will discontinue taking school meals as a result of increased charges cannot be estimated. The more generous arrangements for the remission of the charge for school meals on ground of hardship which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I announced on 9th February will mean that many more children will be able to receive free meals.