§ 12. Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she can now say how many children receive free school meals nationally and in the Greater London area, respectively; what these figures represent as a percentage of meals taken; and how they compare with each of the previous five years.
§ Mr. RaisonFollowing is the answer:
NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF MEALS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO PUPILS AT MAINTAINED SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER LONDON AREA AND IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1968–73.
Greater London Area England and Wales Year Number of free meals Percentage of all meals Number of free meals Percentage of all meals 1968* 109,870 15.6 841,066 16.8 1969 84,418 11.8 594,176 11.5 1970 92,543 13.1 627,056 12.2 1971 109,106 17.4 805,462 17.3 1972 116,569 17.4 850,203 16.7 1973 113,142 16.5 795,276 14.7 *The 1968 figures reflect the concession, with-drawn after a year, under which all fourth and subsequent children in a family were entitled to free school meals.