§ 105. Mr. Keenanasked the Minister of Education whether he has considered, or will consider, an investigation into the high cost of providing school meals, stated to average 1s. 2d. per meal, so that the price of school meals to children might be reconsidered.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe latest estimates of local education authorities who are responsible for the provision of school meals show a gross running cost for the current year of 1s. 2d. per dinner, including administration. As the grant regulations require me to be satisfied that the costs per dinner met by the Exchequer are reasonable, the costs have been continuously investigated during the past three years in close co-operation with the152W Authorities. The new charge of 6d. will still be less than the average cost of the food supplied.
§ 109. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Education in how many cases school meals were ordered for health reasons during any convenient period of one year.
§ Mr. TomlinsonStatistics of medical recommendations are no longer asked for as the former practice under which free dinners could not be granted to necessitous children unless recommended on medical grounds ended in 1941.
§ 110. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Education what is the estimated economy that will be effected by the proposed increase in the price of school meals by a penny.
§ Mr. TomlinsonBetween £1¾ million and £2 million.
§ 113. Mr. K. Lindsayasked the Minister of Education what is the average cost of the mid-day school-meal irrespective of overhead expenses; and what was the total annual charge on public funds before the recent change in policy.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI estimate the average expenditure on food for school dinners in 1949–50 at approximately 6½d. per meal. Before the decision to increase the charge for school dinners, it was estimated that after deducting the income of about £10 million the net running cost of the whole service for this year would be £26 million.