HC Deb 08 March 1968 vol 760 cc174-5W
Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the promotional and administrative costs to public funds of his Department's campaign to encourage schoolchildren to take free school meals.

Mr. Gordon Walker

The cost of printing my personal message to parents and school children, and of distributing it to local education authorities was £6,600. The postal charges for leaflets returned by parents are unlikely to exceed £3,000.

Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of children in primary and secondary schools was regularly taking school meals in January, 1967; and what was the percentage in January, 1968.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Returns from local education authorities relating to a day in the autumn term of 1966 and 1967 show that 68.4 per cent. and 70 per cent. respectively of children present in primary schools on those days and 6.2 per cent. and 68.7 per cent. of children present in secondary schools were taking school meals on those days. Information for the month of January is not available.