HC Deb 22 June 1971 vol 819 cc257-8W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of children in the City of Carlisle and the county of Cumberland, respectively, who have ceased taking school meals since the increases of prices; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. van Straubenzee

At the May, 1971, census 6,146 or 49.5 per cent. of pupils present at maintained schools in Carlisle and 29,676 or 77.6 per cent. in Cumberland took the school meal compared with 8,095 or 63.5 per cent. and 32,474 or 890 per cent. respectively at the autumn, 1970, census.

Free meals served in May, 1971, numbered 1,503 or 24.5 per cent. of the total in Carlisle and 4,975 or 16.8 per cent. of the total in Cumberland, compared with 1,393 or 17.2 per cent. and 3,932 or 12.1 per cent. respectively in the autumn.

I shall put the national position on take-up before the House when returns from local education authorities are complete.

Dr. Summerskill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that there has been a drop of 21 per cent. in the number of Halifax children paying for school meals, she will now rescind the price rise recently introduced.

Mr. van Straubenzee

No. According to the return recently submitted by Halifax local education authority, the number of paid school meals dropped by 22 per cent. between autumn, 1970, and last month. The number of meals served free, however, rose by 21 per cent. in the same period, so that the overall drop in take-up was 15 per cent. Part of this is attributable to the normal seasonal drop in take-up for reasons unconnected with price.

Mr. Duffy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Sheffield children, expressed as a percentage, have stopped taking school meals since the price went up from 9p to 12p at the beginning of this summer term.

Mr. van Straubenzee

At the May, 1971, census, 35,308 or 43.1 per cent. of pupils present at maintained schools in Sheffield took the school meal, compared with 46,592 or 53.5 per cent. at the autumn, 1970, census. Free meals served in May numbered 7,753 or 22 per cent. of the total, compared with 6,924 or 14.9 per cent. of the total in the autumn.