§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children were eating school dinner and how many staff were employed in the school meals service in 1950, 1960, 1965, 1970 and the latest year for which the figures are available.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe available information is as follows:
MAINTAINED SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND Year October Pupil taking school dinners Kitchen and canteen staff and mid-day supervisors 1950 2,508,276 n.a. 1960 3,211,134 n.a. 1965 4,111,801 n.a. 1970 4,873,956 n.a. 1978 5,096,433 266,247 Prior to 1977 the only information about staff employed in the school meals service relates to May 1968 and May 1971, as follows:
Year May Pupils taking school dinners Kitchen and canteen staff and mid-day supervisors 1968 4,465,037 203,020 1971 3,951,650 239,047 Notes:
- (a) The increase in staff numbers between May 1968 and May 1971 is due mainly to an increase in the number of mid-day supervisory assistants; an annex to the 1968 Agreement on teachers and the school meals service set out guidance to local education authorities on the extent of supervisory assistance that might be required in schools.
- (b) Among the years in question, the charge for the school meal was increased at the beginning of the summer terms in 1968, 1970 and 1971.