§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on setting minimum standards for the nutritional value of a free school meal; and if he will make a statement. [136734]
§ Mr. Stephen Twigg[holding answer 10 November 2003]: The issue as to whether the national nutritional standards should be food or nutrient based was debated thoroughly during extensive consultation prior to the introduction of the standards in 2001. The overwhelming consensus was that food based standards would be simpler to implement and monitor, and would be consistent with cross Government messages aimed at teaching children to make healthy eating choices. There has been nothing in the intervening period to suggest that this decision should be reversed.
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information he has collated about the effect of the introduction of child tax credit on the numbers of children eligible for free school meals. [137166]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe information requested is not currently available.
The number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is collected in January each year via the Annual Schools' Census. As a result, data on the number of pupils known to be eligible for free meals since the introduction of new rules in April 2003 will not be available until spring 2004.
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children(a) were assessed as eligible for free school meals and (b) claimed free school meals in the most recent year for which figures are avilable, broken down by ethnic group. [137171]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe table shows the information that is available centrally. It relates to pupils who are known to be eligible for, and claim, free school meals. Equivalent information for the take-up of free school meals is not collected at pupil level and therefore cannot be broken down by ethnic group.
465W
Maintained primary and secondary schools: number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals by ethnic group1 January 2003, England Pupils of compulsory school age and above Maintained Primary2 Maintained Secondary2 Number of pupils known to be eligible for
free school meals
3Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for
free schools meals
4Number of pupils known to be eligible for
free school meals
3Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for
free school meals
4Asian 63,568 27.0 60,229 29.4 Indian 8,852 11.8 9,474 12.0 Pakistani 32,128 32.5 29,191 38.3 Bangladeshi 17,864 44.6 17471 57.8 Any other Asian background 4,724 21.5 4,093 21.4 Black 48,990 38.4 34,971 33.3 Black Caribbean 15,931 31.2 12,873 27.9 Black African 27,865 44.4 17,804 39.2 Any other Black background 5,194 37.6 4,294 31.9 Chinese 1,150 10.6 1,250 10.4 Any other ethnic group 11,964 40.7 1,250 10.4 Classified 599,827 17.8 458,653 14.6 Unclassified5 21,625 19.4 20,127 12.5 All pupils1 621,452 17.9 478,780 14.5 1 Pupils of compulsory school age and above. 2 Includes middle schools as deemed. 3 Excludes dually registered pupils and includes boarders. 4 Number of pupils known to be eligible for free schools meals expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils in each ethnic group. 5 Information was not sought or refused. Source:
Annual Schools' Census
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children received free school meals at the beginning of each school year since 1997. [137205]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the Annual Schools' Census and the number of pupils who were known to be eligible, and claimed, a free school meal are shown in the tables.
466W
Maintained nursery and primary schools1: School meal arrangements Position as at January each year—England Number on roll
Number of pupils
taking
free
school
meals
2Percentage taking free
school
meals
Number of pupils
known to be
eligible for
free school
meals
Percentage known to be
eligible for
free school
meals
19973 4,479,454 775,742 17.3 944,592 21.1 19983 4,508,924 731,576 16.2 891,048 19.8 19993 4,507,663 690,321 15.3 853,020 18.9 20003 4,481.677 671,486 15.0 821,521 18.3 20013 4,451,224 631,638 14.2 784,976 17.6 20023 4,405,639 616,625 14.0 754,511 17.1 20034 4,350,260 604,911 13.9 731,611 16.8 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 The number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the Census. 1 Excludes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils. 1 Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.
Maintained nursery and primary schools1: School meal arrangements Position as at January each year—England Number on roll
Number of pupils
taking
free
school
meals
2Percentage taking free
school
meals
Number of pupils
known to be
eligible for
free school
meals
Percentage known to be
eligible for
free school
meals
19973 3,036,994 381,243 12.6 552,903 18.2 19983 3,069,029 367,798 12.0 537,073 17.5 19993 3,118,277 367,795 11.8 527,339 16.9 20003 3,177,998 368,303 11.6 523,630 16.5 20013 3,226,973 353,469 11.0 509,676 15.8 20023 3,260,931 354,256 10.9 486,353 14.9 20034 3,308,492 349,777 10.6 478,915 14.5 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 The number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the Census. 3 Excludes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils. 4 Includes dually registered pupils and boarding pupils.