§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the results of the October 1987 census of school meals; arid what are the comparable figures for the previous census.
§ Mr. DunnThe information is as follows:
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Maintained Schools (Including Nursery and Special): England October 1987 October 1986 Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Pupils in attendance 6,210,640 1000 6,351,870 100.0 Pupils taking meals on payment 1,989,746 32.0 1,956,310 30.8 Free 1,101,132 17.7 1,143,817 18.0 Total 3,090,878 49.8 3,100,127 48.8 Pupils bringing own food 2,008,172 32.3 1,937,151 30.5 Pupils having other arrangements 1,111,590 17.9 1,314,592 20.7 An analysis of the returns shows the following proportions for primary and secondary pupils, as percentages of pupils in attendance:
Primary Secondary 1987 1986 1987 1986 Pupils taking school meals 51.9 51.8 46.2 44.5 Pupils bring own food 39.4 37.3 24.4 23.3 Pupils having other arrangements 8.7 11.0 29.4 32.1 Detailed tabulations on the returns from local education authorities in England, from which these national totals were derived, are being placed in the Library.