§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish a table showing expenditure
EXPENDITURE ON FREE SCHOOL MEALS AND NUMBER OF PUPILS TAKING THEM—MAINTAINED SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND AND WALES Expenditure* Number of pupils (October) ('000) Year At current prices (£m.) At 1978 prices (£m.) 1965–66 … … … … … 3 15 308 1966–67 … … … … … 3 15 330 1967–68 … … … … … 4 20 404 1968–69† … … … … … 12 41 841 1969–70 … … … … … 8 28 594 1970–71 … … … … … 11 31 627 1971–72 … … … … … 18 38 805 1972–73 … … … … … 19 41 850 1973–74 … … … … … 18 38 795 1974–75 … … … … … 17 35 750 1975–76 … … … … … 23 38 784 1976–77 … … … … … 24 40 839 1977–78 … … … … … 40 46 997 1978–79 … … … … … — 62 1,240 NOTES:
* Figures of expenditure are based on the statutory charge for each year and relate there income foregone.
† The figures for this year reflect the concession, withdrawn after a year, whereby all four subsequent children in a family were automatically entitled to free meals.