HC Deb 23 January 1981 vol 997 cc244-5W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is now in a position to announce when he expects to be able to publish the October survey on school dinners.

Dr. Boyson

This information will be available shortly.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of children claiming school meals in each year since 1948; and if he will present these data as a percentage of (a) all schoolchildren and (b) the number taking school dinners.

Dr. Boyson

The information requested is as follows:—

Take-up of Free School Meals: England
Free School meals taken by pupils as percentage of
Year (October) numbers('000) Pupils Present Pupils taking Meals
1953 217 3.9 8.7
1954 212 3.7 8.1
1955 193 3.3 6.8
1956 191 3.2 6.6
1957 195 3.4 7.3
1958 213 3.5 7.3
1959 227 3.7 7.5
1960 222 3.6 6.9
1961 216 3.5 6.4
1962 237 3.9 6.9
1963 265 4.3 7.3
1964 257 4.1 6.7
1965 281 4.5 6.8
1966 301 4.7 6.9
1967 369 5.6 8.1
1968 778 11.6 16.4
1969 547 7.9 11.2
1970 580 8.1 11.9
1971 746 10.2 16.9
1972 789 10.6 16.4
1973 737 9.6 14.4
1974 694 8.9 12.9
1975 728 9.2 13.1
1976 779 9.8 14.2
1977 927 11.8 19.1
1978 1,074 13.9 21.1
1979 899 11.9 18.5

The information relates to the Autumn term in each year.

Information for years prior to 1953 is not available, and information for 1980 will be available shortly.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the take-up of free school meals for each year since 1948.

Dr. Boyson

Estimates for the number of children eligible to receive free school meals are not made on a regular basis. Estimates, based on family expenditure survey data, suggest that the take up of entitlement in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 was of the order of 80 per cent., 80 per cent., 70 per cent. and 80 per cent. respectively.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children would be eligible to claim free school meals if entitlement was restricted to those at the supplementary benefit/family income supplement level only.

Dr. Boyson

This information is not available within my Department.