§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish figures showing the estimated number of pupils of those eligible taking up free school meals in each of the past 17 years, giving absolute and percentage figures and the price of school meals for each year.
§ Miss Margaret Jackson:Actual numbers of pupils eligible for free school meals are not accurately known. However, it is estimated that in 1966, the earliest year for which an estimate is available, some 50 per cent. of such pupils took up their entitlement. As a result of publicity campaigns by my Department in collaboration with the local education authorities the proportion rose to 75 per cent. by 1969 and to 80 per cent. by 1970. In 1975–76 it dropped to 70 per cent. but is estimated to have recovered to 75 per cent. in 1976–77.
The numbers of pupils who received free meals are shown below, together with details of the meals charge:
MAINTAINED SCHOOLS (INCLUDING NURSERY AND SPECIAL) IN ENGLAND AND WALES Year (October) Number of pupils (000's) in receipt of free school meals Charge for meals p 1960 … 247 5 1961 … 238 5 1962 … 260 5 1963 … 289 5 1964 … 281 5 1965 … 308 5 1966 … 330 5 1967 … 404 5 1968 … 841 7½ 1969 … 594 7½ 1970 … 627 9 1971 … 805 12 1972 … 850 12 1973 … 795 12 1974 … 750 12 1975 … 784 15 1976 … 839 15 The pupil numbers relate to a day in October on which the school meals census was taken for the year in question.
§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in the light of the recent increase in the cost 823W of school meals, what was the level of take up (a) in October 1976, and (b) just before the 1977 summer holiday, in comparison with the current level of take up; and for the same dates, how many
MAINTAINED SCHOOLS (INCLUDING NURSERY AND SPECIAL) IN ENGLAND AND WALES (000's) October 1976 May 1977 Day pupils present … … … … … … 8,440 8,485 Taking mid-day meal … … … … … … 5,836 5,705 As proportion of pupils present … … … … … … (69.1℅) (67.2℅) Receiving free school meal … … … … … … 839 883 As proportion of pupils present … … … … … … (9.9℅) (10.4℅) The October census of pupils taking dinners is currently underway and complete results will be available by the end
October 1976 May 1977 October 1977 (000's) Day pupils present … … … … 160 160 156 Taking mid-day meal … … … … 107 103 96 As proportion of pupils present … … … … (66.9%) (64.4%) (61.4%) Receiving free school meal … … … … 14 14 17 As proportion of pupils present … … … … (8.8%) (9.0%) (10.9%) Figures for pupils entitled to free school meals are not known, but our best present estimate is that 75 per cent. of the pupils eligible to receive free school meals in 1976–77 took up their entitlement. The estimated effect of the substantial increase in August of the net income scale for the remission of the school meal charge, taken together with the increase due in November when the supplementary benefit rates increase, is that an additional 500,000 free school meals will be taken.