HC Deb 05 December 1968 vol 774 c529W
51. Mr. van Straubenzee

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he now has as to the number of school meals provided since the withdrawal of teacher supervision and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Denis Howell

Provisional results of a check on a day in the autumn term 1968, show just over five million day pupils in maintained schools, or 70 pet cent. of the numbers present, taking the school meal. There is no evidence to suggest that the withdrawal of the statutory power to require teachers to supervise school meals has had any significant effect on uptake.