§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of the school meals service expressed as a percentage of the total education budget.
§ Dr. BoysonIn the financial year 1977–78, the net capital and recurrent cost to local authorities of the school meals service in England and Wales amounted to about 6 per cent. of their total expenditure on education in that year.
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§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average weekly cost of the school meals service to (a) domestic ratepayers in general and (b) domestic ratepayers with two children attending school and paying for their lunches.
§ Dr. BoysonThe central Government contribution, through the rate support grant, to local authority expenditure on all services currently stands at 61 per cent. leaving 39 per cent. to be met from rates and balances. Since there is no earmarked grant for the school meals service, it is not possible to say how much of the expenditure on the service in England and Wales in the financial year 1979–80 will be met by ratepayers. The cost per week to the parent of two children attending school and paying for their lunches is at present £2.50, on top of anything paid in the form of rates.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision for a midday meal is made for children during the four months or so of each year represented by school holidays, half-terms and the like.
§ Dr. BoysonLocal education authorities have discretionary powers enabling them to provide midday meals to pupils on days when schools are not open for instruction. In 1977–78, the latest year for which figures are available, 17 authorities in England provided a total of 779,555 "holiday and Saturday meals".
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial compensation is made for children entitled to free school meals during the four months or so of each year represented by school holidays, half-terms and the like.
§ Dr. BoysonNone.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the numbers of (a) children, (b) teachers and (c) administrative staff, including cooks and kitchen staff, who take school meals.
§ Dr. BoysonThe latest available information relates to a day in October 1978 when the numbers taking meals in28W maintained schools in England were as follows:
(a) pupils 5,096,433 (b) teachers 236,310 (c) kitchen and canteen staff 168,564 (d) mid-day supervisory assistants 97,683 (e) others, including administrative staff 27,116 No estimates have been made of how the numbers have changed subsequently, but they are normally at their highest during the autumn term.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what charge is made for teachers, administrative and kitchen staff who take school meals.
§ Dr. BoysonKitchen and canteen staff and midday supervisory assistants receive a midday meal without payment, their hourly rates of pay being abated by 1.46p. Teachers who carry out supervisory duties during the midday break are entitled to receive a free meal. Other teachers and adults who take a school meal are normally charged the full cost.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the increased revenue derived from increasing the price of school meals by (a) 5p, (b) 10p and (c) doubling the price.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is estimated that the increased revenue in 1979–80 derived from a 5p increase in the charge for the school meal in autumn 1979 would be about £17 million. A 10p increase would, depending on the reduction in the number of paying pupils, be expected to increase revenue over the same period by between £14 million and £32 million. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the increased revenue from doubling the price.