HC Deb 25 June 1974 vol 875 c394W
40. Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his estimates of the total cost of granting free school dinners to all children attending (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools, respectively.

Mr. Armstrong

If the availability of free meals for all resulted in their take-up by, say, 90 per cent. of pupils in school in England and Wales, the total cost would be £242 million and £172 million, respectively.