§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the income limits for the receipt of free school meals in each regional and island authority in Scotland; and how many authorities propose to discontinue or have discontinued receipt of unemployment benefit as a qualification for free school meals.
§ Mr. Allan StewartAll authorities have a statutory duty to provide free school meals for pupils whose families are in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement. At January 1983, the latest date for which information is available, the following authorities also awarded free meals to some children on the basis of their family's income:
Education authority Maximum qualifying income for a family with one child £ Central 62.75 Fife 62.69 Strathclyde 62.90 Orkney 53.65 Shetlands 53.65 Western Isles 85.50 In addition, Dumfries and Galloway regional council take family income into account when considering appeals relating to provision of free school meals.
In 1983 only Borders regional council used receipt of unemployment benefit as an additional qualification for free school meals. I am not aware of any change or proposal for change.
The other four education authorities, Grampian, Highland, Lothian and Tayside regional councils, provide school meals for pupils whose parents are receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement.