§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many additional teachers could be recruited and paid for out of public funds if the charge for school meals were to be in 252W creased to 20p, 25p, 30p, 35p and 40p in a full year, assuming that the whole of the increased revenue was applied to the payment of salaries for newly qualified teachers;
(2) what would be the saving to public funds during the year ending 5th April 1977 if the charge for school meals were to be increased to 20p, 25p, 30p, 35p and 40p in September 1976, with the usual exemptions in case of hardship.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIf the charge were increased to 20p in September 1976 the estimated saving for England and Wales in the current financial year would be £33.5 million. In a full year the saving would be £47 million. The impact of larger increases upon the uptake of school meals, and thus on the income, is unpredictable.
The salaries of newly qualified teachers vary according to their age and qualifications; therefore it is not possible to give precisely the cost of employing them. The sum of £47 million might represent the cost of employing between 14,000–15,000 of them, though there is no guarantee that any money deflected from school meals would in the event be spent on teachers by the employing authorities.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on which date the present charge of 15p for a school meal was fixed; and what would be the charge today, if the price were to be increased so as to take account of inflation.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe charge of 15p was introduced in April 1975. This represents about 18p at today's values.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the cost of subsidies for school meals, in actual prices, during the year ending 5th April 1977.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI have no later estimate than the figure of £362 million which I gave to the hon. Member in reply to his Question on 17th May—[Vol. 911, c. 387].
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the actual cost of providing a school meal on the latest available date.
253W
§ Miss Margaret JacksonI have no later estimate than the one which I gave the hon. Member in reply to his Question on 4th May.—[Vol. 910, c. 1040.]—This related to November 1975.