HC Deb 23 July 1980 vol 989 cc267-8W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what is his latest estimate of the number of children (a) entitled to and (b) receiving, free school meals, school maintenance allowances and school uniform grants;

Territory Level of course Student numbers 1978–79 Public expenditure cost (November 1978 price levels) £
Antigua … … … Postgraduate … 4
Undergraduate … —
Advanced Further Education … 6
Non-Advanced Further Education … 2
Total … 12 15,700

and what are the comparable figures for each of the past five years.

Dr. Boyson

No estimates of these numbers are available: all are dependent on how local education authorities make use of their discretionary powers. The numbers of children actually receiving free meals on a day in October over the past five years were—for maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England—as follows:

1979 898,768
1978 1,074,066
1977 926,909
1976 778,720
1975 727,804