§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his latest estimate of the cost to public funds of subsidised meals for members of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. ChannonThe estimated cost of the cash subsidies for meals for the current financial year is £1,439,000. This represents approximately 2p per day for each civil servant who has access to a staff restaurant.
Additional payments, amounting in 1979–80 to some £2,370,000, are made to meet excess staff costs incurred in providing meals for certain establishments, for example in Royal ordnance factories where staff work abnormal hours. Premises, equipment, and services are also provided but estimates of the cost of these are not readily available.