HC Deb 08 June 1995 vol 261 cc291-2W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the percentage of school pupils entitled to free school meals for each year since 1979. [27186]

Mr. Robin Squire

Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals was collected from maintained schools in England for the first time in January 1993. At this time, 20 per cent. of pupils were reported as known to be eligible for free school meals. In January 1994, the figure was 21 per cent.