§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish the numbers and percentages of children (a) estimated to be entitled to free school meals and (b) taking up their entitlement.
§ Mr. DunnThe numbers and percentages of children estimated to be statutorily entitled to a free school meal in 1982–83 was about 1.2 million, of whom about 70 per cent. took up their entitlement. The Education (School
Revenue from school meals Subsidy on paid meals Expenditure on free meals £ million Index base 1974 £ million Index base 1974 £ million Index base 1974 1981–82 214 80.5 244 49.7 147 130.3 1982–83 210 74.0 232 44.2 173 143.6 1983–84* 230 76.5 220 39.5 201 156.9 * Estimated. The figures are based on LEAs' expenditure returns for 1981–82 and 1982–83, and on their budgets for 1983–84 as presented in the CIPFA Estimates.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the price charged to consumers of school meals in each local education authority in the autumn of 1982 and 1983;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the numbers and percentages of pupils in attendance at (i) primary school and (ii) secondary school, eating (a) all school meals, (b) free school meals, (c) paid school meals and (d) packed lunches in the autumn of 1983.
§ Mr. DunnThe most recent published information is in the 1982 school meals census a report of which is available in the Library.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask local authorities to provide estimates of the cost of providing free school meals for (a) all children and (b) all children in primary schools; and if he will publish the tables in the Official Report.
§ Mr. DunnNo. However, on the basis of information already available to the Department from individual authorities, the cost of providing free school meals for all children in 1982–83 was about £175 million, of which that for the primary sector was something under £100 million.