§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the average percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals was in(a) specialist secondary schools and (b) other secondary schools in England for the most recent period for which figures are available. [151165]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisInformation from the Department's 2000 Annual Schools Census shows that the proportion of pupils "known to be eligible for free school meals" was 16 per cent. in mainstream specialist secondary schools currently operational, and 18 per cent. in other mainstream maintained secondary schools. For those mainstream specialist schools designated in 1996 or earlier, the proportion of pupils "known to be eligible for free school meals" was 14 per cent.: for those mainstream specialist schools designated after that date the proportion was 17 per cent.