§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the results of the October census of school meals are now available; and how they compare with those of the census carried out in 1975.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIn October 5,836,000 pupils at maintained schools in England and Wales took the school dinner compared with 5,893,000 in October 1975. The proportion of pupils present taking the meal, 69.1 per cent., was slightly lower than the previous year when it was 70.1 per cent. Those in receipt of free dinners numbered 839,000 which was 14.4 per cent. of dinners served and 9.9 per cent. of total pupils present, compared with 784,000, 13.3 per cent. and 9.3 per cent. last year. A detailed statement of the returns from local education authorities on which these figures are based will be placed in the Library.
This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.
The census also collected information about pupils purchasing snack meals in school and bringing their own food to eat at midday. The numbers were 48,000 and 655,000 compared with 26,000 and 517,000 last year.
On the day of the census, school dinners were taken by 76.9 per cent. of all pupils present in primary schools (77.1 per cent. last year) and by 58.8 per cent. in secondary schools (60.3 per cent. last year). Three out of four snack meals were purchased in secondary schools and 11.5 per cent. of secondary pupils brought sandwiches compared with 5 per cent. of primary pupils.