HC Deb 20 June 1985 vol 81 c179W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are currently entitled to free school meals; and what percentage of those entitled to free school meals take up their entitlement.

Mr. Dunn

The only figures on free school meals collected centrally for English local education authorities are for those pupils actually taking a free meal on the day of the annual census, the report on which is available in the Library. It is estimated that about two thirds to three quarters of those mandatorily entitled to a free meal take up the entitlement.