§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average number of free school meals claimed in Wales in each year from 1956 to 1973 to the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe number of free dinners taken by day pupils in maintained schools in Wales on a day in October for each year from 1956–1973 is as follows:
1956–25,178 1962–24,076 1968–63,424 1957–23,032 1963–23,998 1969–47,521 1958–25,046 1966–23,271 1970–47,075 1959–26,412 1965–26,783 1971–59,011 1960–25,568 1966–28,856 1972–62,018 1961–22,738 1967–35,426 1973–58,331 The high total in 1968 is explained by the fact that, in that year only, free dinners were automatically available on grounds of financial hardship to the fourth and subsequent children in a family.