§ Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the total proportional cost, subsidy and income from parental contributions of school dinners in 1964–65, 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70; and what for each year is his estimate of the percentage of pupils at present taking meals and the percentage of meals served free.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe available information is as follows:
35W
1964–65 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 Actual Actual Estimated Estimated d. d. d. d. Food 10.50 11.71 12.32 12.64 Labour and other overheads (excluding capital expenditure) 15.23 17.77 18.84 20.16 25.73 29.48 31.16 32.80
§ Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he estimates to be the savings in subsidy, the reduction in demand and the increased numbers of pupils qualifying for free school dinners of raising the present charge of 1s. 6d. to 1s. 9d., 2s., 2s. 3d. and 2s. 6d., respectively.
§ Mr. Denis HowellWhen the price of the school meal was increased from 1s. 0d. to 1s. 6d. in April 1968 I estimate that demand by paying pupils fell by about 10 per cent.; that the number taking free meals nearly doubled; and that there was a saving of about £14 million in the financial year 1968–69. Because of the effects of the publicity campaign to make parents aware of their rights in respect of free school meals and of the changes in arrangements for the children of large families, the impact on demand of future increases cannot be accurately deduced from these figures.