§ Mr. Spenceasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to establish how much an independent contractor would charge for pro-viding schools meals to the value of 17p worth of food on the plate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonThere is no evidence to suggest that an independent contractor could provide school meals as economically as at present.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there is a pension scheme for kitchen staff preparing school dinners; if it is indexed; and what is the cost.
§ Mr. KingI have been asked to reply.
All non-teaching schools staff, including members of the schools meals service, are at present eligible to become members of the local government superannuation scheme if their contractual minimum hours of employment regularly or usually amount to 30 hours or more in each week. Amending regulations in the course of preparation would enable all such staff to join the scheme in due course, irrespective of their weekly hours of employment. Pensions payable to members of the local government superannuation scheme are subject to annual review under the pensions increase legislation. I regret that it is not possible to isolate the cost of providing pensions for this group of staff.