§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates she has made of the effect of price increases to 30p and 35p, respectively, on the number of children taking school meals; and if she will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonIf an estimate were to be called for, I understand that a reduction in the number of pupils paying for a school meal might be expected to lie in the range of 7½ per cent. to 10 per cent.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates are available of the proportion of children eligible for free school meals who are taking them; what figures are available for the changes which have taken place in this proportion in recent months and years; and if she will make a statement.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe latest available estimate is that about 75 per cent. of the pupils eligible for free school meals in 1976–77 were taking them. Estimates based on later data are not yet available. The October 1977 census showed an increase of 19 per cent. in the number of children receiving free meals.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what forecasts she can make of the likely movements in the price of school meals; and if she will now subsidise these meals with the aim of reducing the cost to 15p.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe forecasts for expenditure on the school meals service as set out in the White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans, 1978–79 to 1981–82" (Cmnd. 7049) allow for the progressive reduction in the level of the subsidy on the meal. As regards any alteration in the charge for the school meal, I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend said to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 17th January—[Vol. 942, c. 224].
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§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence was available to her of the identification of children receiving free school meals; and if she will give guidance to local authorities on methods of providing school meals to avoid such identification.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonA number of cases of alleged identification have been brought to the attention of my right hon. Friend recently and all have been taken up when the school or authority concerned has been identified, Some of these cases proved to be unfounded; others led to the authorities concerned reviewing the system used by some of their schools for collecting dinner money. Guidance will be given to local authorities about practices to be avoided in a joint circular to be issued later this week.