§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study he has made of the proposal by Staffordshire county council to abolish the provision of school meals; if he will reject any such proposal by Staffordshire of any other local education authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonMy Department has received no such proposal from the Staffordshire authority. A suggestion has however been made by the Association of County Councils that in order to secure reductions in expenditure on the 729W education service as a whole, local education authorities should be given more discretion to decide what to provide as a school meal. This is one of a number of proposals under consideration.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is planning to reduce the nutritional standards of school meals.
§ Dr. BoysonThe present statutory basis for the school meals service is under consideration in the light of the review of future public expenditure. Whether central guidance on nutritional standards will continue to be appropriate is one of the issues to be settled.