§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the number of children in Scotland who received free school meals in each year from 1973–74; and if he will include estimates from 1978–79.
§ Mr. McElhoneThe information is as follows:
Year Number (000's) 1973–74 130 1974–75 122 1975–76 117 1976–77 118 1977–78 156 1978–79 160 (estimate) Apart from 1978–79 the figures are taken from the main school meals census and relate to children taking meals on a day in January each year.