Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the national average cost of the school dinner and the total subsidy currently required with the price at 1s.; and what would be the estimated saving in annual subsidy if this price were raised to Is. 3d., 1s. 6d., 1s. 9d., and 2s., respectively.
§ Mr. RedheadLocal education authority estimates of expenditure on school meals in England and Wales in 1965–66 are as follows:
£ million Gross Running Costs 102.1 Capital Expenditure met from Revenue 7.8 Loan Charges 3.7 Total Cost 113.6 Less Income 38.2 Total Subsidy 75.4 The gross average cost per meal is: d. Food 11.24 Overheads 16.89 28.13 The savings in 1966–67 accruing from increasing the present charge of 1s. by 3d., 6d., 9d., or 1s. and the reduction in demand resulting from such increases are estimated as follows:
Charge per meal Estimated Savings £million Estimated reduction in demand by paying pupils—per cent. 1s. 3d. 8.5 Nil 1s. 6d. 15.0 10 1s. 9d. 20.0 20 2s. 0d. 25.0 25