HC Deb 21 July 1980 vol 989 c47W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of families his Department estimates will be affected by the reduction in income scale for determining free school meals entitlement in Cumbria; and if he will list the different education authorities together with their standing in relation to the national minimum point scale.

Dr. Boyson

Such estimates are not made by the Department and I suggest that the hon. Member consults the Cumbria county council for information relating to that county. Entitlement to free school meals is no longer based on a nationally determined income scale, but informal inquiries by the Department indicate that in the summer term 57 LEAs were providing free meals on the basis of the November 1979 scale, 10 had adopted a scale which was somewhat less generous and 29 were restricting entitlement to the statutory minimum.