§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the average numbers of free school dinners claimed in each year since 1948.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe following table shows for each year since 1956 the number of free school dinners received by pupils in maintained schools in England and Wales on a day in the autumn term each year. I have no information about the position in Scotland, and figures for years before 1956 are not available.
PUPILS IN MAINTAINED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND AND WALES RECEIVING FREE SCHOOL DINNERS. Year … … … … Number (000) 1956 … … … … 216 1957 … … … … 218 1958 … … … … 238 1959 … … … … 254 1960 … … … … 247 1961 … … … … 238 1962 … … … … 260 1963 … … … … 289 1964 … … … … 281 1965 … … … … 308 1966 … … … … 330 1967 … … … … 404 1968 … … … … 841 1969 … … … … 594 1970 … … … … 627 1971 … … … … 805 1972 … … … … 850 1973 … … … … 795 Notes:
1. Average figures for the years shown are not available.
2. The high figures for 1968 reflect the concession, withdrawn after a year, under which all fourth and subsequent children in a family had entitlement to free school dinners.