School Meals (Hansard, 17 May 1976)

§ Mr. Gow
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the cost of school meal subsidies during the current financial year; what is the estimated proportion of the subsidy to the cost of the meal 388W during the current year; and what were the comparable figures for the amount and proportion of the subsidy in each of the past 20 years.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
The information is as follows:

Public Expenditure on school meals at out-turn Prices^*£ million Subsidy† Percentage

1956–57‡ 34 52

1957–58 31 48

1958–59 33 49

1959–60 35 47

1960–61 38 49

1961–62 42 51

1962–63 46 53

1963–64 47 52

1964–65 54 53

1965–66 62 56

1966–67 70 59

1967–68 81 59

1968–69 74 43

1969–70 80 47

1970–71 87 43

1971–72 96 37

1972–73 123 43

1973–74 171 53

1974–75 256 62

1975–76§ 331 62

1976–77§ 362 64

^* Excludes loan charges and capital expenditure from revenue.

† The subsidy represents that proportion of the average cost of a meal which is not covered by the statutory charge.

‡ In 1956–57 the charge was increased from 9d. to 10d. on 1st September. The subsidy for that year is based on the latter figure.

§ Figures for 1975–76 and 1976–77 are estimates and the latter assumes that the charge of 15p will apply throughout that financial year.

§ Mr. George Rodgers
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what savings have been achieved by the introduction of manufactured food to replace meat in school dinners.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
No informaton is available on which to base an estimate, and it would not be possible to obtain such information without a major survey.

§ Mr. Brotherton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of children receiving free school meals;
(2) what is the percentage of children receiving free school meals.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
The latest information relates to a day in October 389W 1975 when 784,158 pupils in maintained schools in England and Wales received free dinners. This represents 9.3 per cent. of the number of pupils in attendance on the day of the census or 13.3 per cent. of the number taking the meal.

§ Mr. Hal Miller
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schoolchildren receive free school meals; how many pay for school meals; how many take their own food to school; and how many go home for a meal at midday.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
The latest information is derived from a return made by local education authorities relating to a day in October 1975. Of the 8,405,000 pupils attending maintained schools in England and Wales on the day of the return 5,893,000 took school dinners, 784,000 receiving them free of charge and 5,109,000 paying for their meal; 26,000 pupils took and paid for other meals provided by the school catering service and 517,000 pupils brought their own food. No information is available about the meal taken by the remaining 1,969,000 pupils.

§ Mr. Hal Miller
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science of the total cost of school meals, what proportion is borne by the parents, the ratepayer and the taxpayer, respectively; and what is the respective amount per head per annum for each of these categories.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
It is estimated that for the current financial year the charge of 15p paid by parents represents 36 per cent. of the average cost to authorities of providing the meal. This figure does not, however, take account of the cost to authorities of providing free meals and if this expenditure is included the cost borne by parents and by adults taking the meal on payment represents 29 per cent. of authorities' total expenditure. The balance of the cost is met by authorities out of their total income but it is not possible to say what proportion is met separately out of rates and Exchequer grants. This is because the rate support grant is a general grant in aid of rate fund services which is not allocated to specific services.
For the same reason it is not possible to say how much of the cost of meals 390W is borne by ratepayers or by taxpayers. The cost to individual parents varies with their circumstances.

§ Mr. Hal Miller
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school meals advisers, organisers, supervisors, cooks and other staff are employed in preparing, serving and supervising school meals.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
This is entirely a matter for local education authorities, and information is not available in the Department.

§ Mr. Hal Miller
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school meals are served daily; and what is the daily cost of the food, fuel, equipment and staff required for their preparation and serving.

§ Miss Margaret Jackson
It is estimated that at the present time 6,355,000 school dinners are being servied each school day at a daily cost of £2.64 million. Of this amount £.84 million is for food, £1.52 million is for salaries and wages and £.28 million for other running expenses, including fuel and equipment for which separate figures are not available.

	Public Expenditure on school meals at out-turn Prices^*£ million	Subsidy† Percentage
1956–57‡	34	52
1957–58	31	48
1958–59	33	49
1959–60	35	47
1960–61	38	49
1961–62	42	51
1962–63	46	53
1963–64	47	52
1964–65	54	53
1965–66	62	56
1966–67	70	59
1967–68	81	59
1968–69	74	43
1969–70	80	47
1970–71	87	43
1971–72	96	37
1972–73	123	43
1973–74	171	53
1974–75	256	62
1975–76§	331	62
1976–77§	362	64
^* Excludes loan charges and capital expenditure from revenue.
† The subsidy represents that proportion of the average cost of a meal which is not covered by the statutory charge.
‡ In 1956–57 the charge was increased from 9d. to 10d. on 1st September. The subsidy for that year is based on the latter figure.
§ Figures for 1975–76 and 1976–77 are estimates and the latter assumes that the charge of 15p will apply throughout that financial year.