§ 46. Mr. Armstrongasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children in Durham county were in attendance at school at the last count; how many and what percentage of the number present had a school meal; how many and what percentage of those taking meals were free; and if he will give comparable figures for the county of Surrey.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneOn a day in October 1978, the latest date for which figures are available 107,140 children attended maintained schools in county Durham. A total of 75,539—7 per cent. of those present—took the school meal. Of these, 19,003—25 per cent., or 18 per cent. of those present—received it free of charge. Comparable figures for Surrey were 143,084 pupils present, 92,852 taking a meal—65 per cent. of those present—and 10,395 receiving it free—11 per cent., of those taking a meal, or 7 per cent. of those present.