Free School Meals (Hansard, 26 February 1997)

HC Deb 26 February 1997 vol 291 c281W 281W

§ Mr. Alan Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of(a) the cost and (b) the number gaining if free school meals were extended to those in receipt of family credit. [16672]

§ Mr. Roger Evans
The information is set out in the table:

Cost and number gaining from extending entitlement to free school meals to families receiving family credit 1997–98

Estimated cost £150 million

Number of families gaining 540,000

Number of dependants gaining 1 million

1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.

2. Gainers are rounded to the nearest 5,000

Cost and number gaining from extending entitlement to free school meals to families receiving family credit 1997–98
Estimated cost	£150 million
Number of families gaining	540,000
Number of dependants gaining	1 million
1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
2. Gainers are rounded to the nearest 5,000