§ 36. Mr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to introduce her scheme for having two types of school meals.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe provision of school meals is a matter for local education authorities subject to the relevant regulations. These at present empower authorities to provide other meals and refreshment in addition to the standard school dinner.
406W
§ 58. Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school dinners were taken in Hull in the first week following the Easter holidays; how many were taken in the comparable period last year; how many were free dinners and how many were free because the main wage earner in the household was unemployed; and what was the comparable figure for 1970.
§ Mrs. ThatcherOn a day in September, 1970, 21,550 pupils at schools in Kingston-upon-Hull took the school meal and 5,814 received it free of charge. I cannot say how many of these pupils received free meals because the main wage earner in the household was unemployed.
In answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the Question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and others.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of school children who ceased having school dinners after the recent price increase.
§ Mrs. ThatcherI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the Question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and others.