§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of children receiving free school meals for each year since 1974, the proportion of children in attendance this represents, and Government expenditure on free school meals in cash and cost terms using 100 as a base for 1974.
§ Mr. DunnThe information requested is as follows:
Free pupil meals Index of estimated expenditure* on free pupil meals in cash terms Year Number (thousand) Number as percentage of pupils present Cash terms Real terms† 1974–75 694 8.9 100 100 1975–76 728 9.2 132 105 1976–77 779 9.8 160 113 1977–78 927 11.8 219 135 1978–79 1,074 13.9 268 150 1979–80 899 11.9 258 123 1980–81 724 9.9 283 114 1981–82 856 11.9 334 123 1982–83 964 13.9 396 136 1983–84 1,075 15.9 449 147 * The gross expenditure on all meals by local education authorities has been apportioned to free pupils in the ratio of free pupil meals to total pupil meals. † Cash terms have been converted into real terms using the GDP deflator at market prices.