§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards the abolition of a school meals service in some local education authority areas; and if he will make a statement on his Department's attitude to the future of the school meals service as a whole.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the commitments of the Government to maintain essential services to the most needy sections of society, if he will make a statement on the policy of his Department towards local authorities which have withdrawn school meals services.
§ Dr. BoysonLocal education authorities must comply with their statutory duties to provide free meals for pupils from families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement and to make appropriate facilities available for pupils to consume their own food, and they have discretion to do more if they wish. Provided that these requirements are met my right hon. and learned Friend's policy is not to intervene in decisions taken by LEAs on their school meals services.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local authorities have now withdrawn or are considering the withdrawal of school meals services; and if he is recommending the withdrawal of such services.
§ Dr. BoysonDorset has discontinued a paid meals service to primary schools and Lincolnshire has decided to discontinue a paid service to all pupils. No other authorities are known to be actively considering discontinuing their school meals service. My right hon. and learned Friend has made no recommendation on the withdrawal of such services.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that appropriate measures are being taken to ensure that the capital stocks of buildings and equipment provided for school meals services are not allowed to deteriorate or to be disposed of in view of the possibility of a restoration of these services in due course.
§ Dr. BoysonThis is a matter for individual local education authorities to consider.
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§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has taken any steps in regard to the recommendations concerning the school meals service contained in the report "Inequalities in Health".
§ Dr. BoysonI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on 2 December.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has made any estimate of the effect withdrawal of the school meals service will have on those firms and individuals which supply goods and services to the local authorities concerned.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. and learned Friend has made no such estimate.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to monitor the health and nutrition of schoolchildren in areas in which school meal provision has ceased.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services intends in due course to arrange for the nutritional effects of school meals arrangements in selected areas to be monitored.
§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the receptiveness of children in the classroom will not be adversely affected where they receive neither hot food nor hot drinks during the school day; and on what research he bases his judgment.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. and learned Friend understands that hot food and drinks do not necessarily
Financial Year Net recurrent expenditure Net capital expenditure Total Net recurrent expenditure Net capital expenditure Total 1977–78 429 15 444 524 18 542 1978–79 467 11 478 525 12 537 1979–80 547 11 558 541 11 552 My Department does not compile estimated expenditure data for individual local education authorities. Certain analyses of their expenditure and income are published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library. Notes: (1) Net recurrent expenditure including RCCO and debt charges, but excluding all specific Government grants. (2) All figures rounded to nearest £m.
§ Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been contributed to the Inner London Education Authority by central Government by way of the rate support grant for each of the last three years; and what is his estimate for the current year.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleUnder the previous rate support grant arrangements, applying in years up to and including 1980–81, central government did not pay grant to the Inner London Education Authority. But provision was included for education or for other services within the needs element grant paid to inner London Boroughs on which the Inner London Education Authority precepted.
§ Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action will be taken if the Inner London Education Authority exceeds the level of expenditure which is implied in the amount of the block grant for the year 1981–82.
378Wprovide greater nutritional value than cold, other things being equal. There appears to be no research evidence which suggests a correlation between hot or cold food and the receptiveness of pupils.
§ Mr. Pendryasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that local education authorities are maximising their publicity for eligibility for free school meals entitlement.
§ Dr. BoysonMy right hon. and learned Friend is considering the form of statutory regulations which will specify the information to be given by local education authorities to parents to assist them in selecting the school they wish their child to attend. The arrangements for the remission of school meal charges is among the topics which may be included. Local education authorities have their own arrangements for informing pupils already attending school of the availability of free school meals and at present my right hon. and learned Friend sees no need for any action by his Department.