§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is estimated to be the average income ceiling for eligibility for free school meals in the case of a married man with, respectively, one, two, three, four and five children.
§ Mr. van Straubenzee:A parent is entitled to free school meals for all his children at school if his net weekly income does not exceed £13.25, £15.75, £18.25, £20.75 and £23.75 in the case of one, two, three, four and five-child families respectively. Partial entitlement is retained in the case of two, three, four and five-child families while the net weekly income is below £16.35, £19.45, £22.55 and £25.65 respectively. Net income is gross income including family allowances, 407W but excluding certain other resources, reduced by income tax, national insurance contributions, rent or mortgage payments, rates, life assurance premiums, superannuation, trade union subscriptions and other expenses of employment. These items vary considerably from one family to another, and it could be misleading to state average income ceilings which purported to reflect corresponding net income points for free school meals eligibility.