HC Deb 24 May 1974 vol 874 cc285-6W
Sir B. Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are now entitled to take a meal at school; what proportion is required to pay; what is now the contribution and what is the actual cost of providing the meal; and what proportions of those required to pay and of those entitled to a free meal do not actually take it.

Mr. Armstrong

Every pupil in attendance at a maintained school is entitled to a school dinner on every school day though a local education authority is not required to provide a meal for any pupil who takes it so rarely or irregularly that unreasonable expense is involved in catering for him. In October 1973, the latest date for which figures are available, 85 per cent, of the pupils taking the meal paid for it. The prescribed charge for the meal is now 12p and the current estimated average cost of providing it 26p. It is estimated that about 20 per cent. of the pupils whose family circumstances entitle them to free school meals and 35 per cent. of those not so entitled do not take the meal.

Sir B. Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present quality of school meals; and if he will publish particulars of the content and nutritional standards it is aimed to provide.

Mr. Armstrong

I have no evidence that local education authorities are providing meals which fall below the nutritional standards recommended by my Department. These standards are based on the report of a working party set up in 1965 to consider the nutritional standard of school dinner and the type of meal, and have been conveyed to authorities in a circular, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. A similar working party is at present considering the nutritional aspects of school meals, and the need for any change in standards will be considered when its report has been received.

Sir B. Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the number of children who would draw a meal at school if it were free who now depend on other arrangements.

Mr. Armstrong

Assuming that about 90 per cent. of the pupils in attendance at school would take the meals if they were free of charge, some 2 million children would eat a midday meal at school who do not do so now.