HL Deb 25 July 1984 vol 455 c390WA
Lord Dunleath

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many schools in Northern Ireland have not been providing free school meals, how many pupils in each education board area are eligible for such meals and how many pupils are not receiving them.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)

: Information is not available on the number of schools that have not been providing free school meals. A school meals service is provided in 1,374 schools; during the teachers' industrial dispute it has been possible to maintain a normal service in about 65 per cent. of the schools, with a partial service in about 25 per cent.

In October 1983 the uptake of free school meals was:

EDUCATION AND LIBRARY BOARD
North Eastern South Eastern Western Southern Belfast Voluntary Grammar Schools
17,269 8,907 22,368 21,092 15,743 4,664
The number of eligible pupils who have not been receiving free school meals is not known.