§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to encourage the teaching of modern foreign languages in schools.
§ Mr. DunnThe White Paper "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9469) published in March, made clear our view that the great majority of pupils should receive in the first three years of secondary school a course in a foreign language
Total expenditure on school meals Expenditure on free* school meals Pupils receiving £ million cash £ million real† terms Index £ million cash £ million real† terms Index Meals Free meals 1978–79 376.0 670.0 100 118.3 210.8 100 65.9 13.9 1979–80 409.2 623.8 93 113.9 173.6 82 64.1 11.9 1980–81 391.2 502.5 75 124.7 160.2 76 48.2 9.9 1981–82 391.1 456.8 68 147.4 172.2 82 49.0 11.9 1982–83 411.3 449.4 67 174.8 191.0 91 49.4 13.9 1983–84 426.6 445.8 67 199.8 208.8 99 51.4 15.9 * The gross expenditure on all meals has been apportioned to free pupils in the ratio of free pupil to total pupil meals. † Real term figures are the cash figures adjusted to 1984–85 prices using the GDP deflator at market prices.