HC Deb 13 February 1985 vol 73 cc189-90W
Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the estimated total of teachers, meal supervisors and school staff who take school luncheon; and how many of them pay.

Mr. Dunn

The number of meals provided to adults at maintained schools in England on a day in October 1983, the latest date for which information is available, was:

On payment Free
Teachers 11,853 189,947
Midday Supervisory Assistants 1,961 73,238
Kitchen and Canteen Staff 6,652 114,823
Others 3,316 18,003

Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the estimated cost of providing one school lunch and as to how much of this is the actual value of the food.

Mr. Dunn

Local authorities' estimates for 1984–85 show that expenditure on food, net of EEC subsidies, represents 26 per cent. of the total gross cost of providing meals. The Department does not have the information from which to calculate the average cost of a meal.