§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the real average cost of a school meal in England and Wales, as opposed to the subsidised price of 25p and how much of the subsidy per meal comes from (a) Her Majesty's Government, and (b) the local education authority.
§ Miss Margaret Jackson:The average cost of a school meal is about 50p. Central Government do not pay a specific share; the cost to local education authorities is relevant expenditure for rate support grant. For 1977–78 the level of rate support grant is 61 per cent.