§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what savings he assumed in the case of each local education authority in England and Wales when he calculated that relaxation of present statutory obligations on local authorities to provide meals and milk for pupils would lead to a reduction in the annual rate of net public expenditure on these items of about £200 million.
§ Dr. BoysonSuch detailed estimates have not been made since it will be for individual authorities to decide what savings to make when the present statutory arrangements are relaxed. Nationally it has been assumed that a combination of a reduction in the average cost of pro-302W ducing the school meal in the number of free schools meals, and in the subsidy on meals that are paid for would, together with some small reduction in the provision of free milk, enable authorities to reduce the annual rate of net expenditure by about £200 million.