§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether she will publish in the Official Report details of the income limits for eligibility for free school meals.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonDetails are contained in the Provision of Milk and Meals (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1977 which were laid before Parliament on 26th July. They are as follows:
"Size of family" means the number of dependent children in the family who have not attained the age of 19.
Net weekly income is arrived at by deducting income tax, national insurance contributions, and certain expenses and by disregarding a number of resources specified in regulations. The gross income will of course vary in individual 615W circumstances. As an illustration: A family with two children both at school would receive free meals for both of them if the gross income did not exceed about £62.50p, and a family with four children at school would similarly receive free meals for all if the gross income did not exceed £75.50p.
For families which have more than six dependent children under the age of 19:(a) £6.65 is to be added at each incremental point in every additional line, and(b) £1.25 is to be deducted at each incremental point in every additional column