§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the cost of free school meals in each year from 1978–79 to 1990–91 in both cash and real terms.
§ Mr. ButcherInformation is not available centrally in the form requested. The estimated figures contained in the table are based on the number of meals served to pupils on one day in each of the relevant years. More detailed statistics are included in the annual school meals census which is available in the Library of the House of Commons. Information for 1987–88 to 1990–91 is not yet available.
Estimated cost of providing free school meals to pupils (£ million) Year In cash terms In 1986–87 real terms 1978–79 118 230 1979–80 114 190 1980–81 125 176 1981–82 148 190 1982–83 175 210 1983–84 200 229 1984–85 215 234 1985–86 1— 1— 1986–87 250 250 1 A breakdown of the 1985–86 figures is not available