HC Deb 16 December 1985 vol 89 cc20-1W

Mr. Pendry asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures for each year since 1975 for primary and secondary maintained schools in Wales for the total number of pupils in attendance, the number of pupils taking school meals on payments and free and the number of pupils bringing their own food.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The figures for 1984, the latest year for which information is available, are as follows:

Numbers
Primary Schools
Pupils present 222,564
Pupils taking midday meals:
On payment 81,115
Free 57,007
Pupils bringing own food 56,488
Secondary Schools
Pupils present 198,788
Pupils taking midday meals:
On payment 72,864
Free 37,009
Pupils bringing own food 30,276

Numbers
Primary and Secondary Schools
Pupils present 421,352
Pupils taking midday meals:
On payment 153,979
Free 94,016
Pupils bringing own food 86,764

The corresponding information for the years 1975 to 1983 inclusive is published in section 8 of volumes 5 and 9 of Statistics of Education in Wales, copies of which are in the Library.