HC Deb 26 June 1986 vol 100 cc314-6W
Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the results of the annual census of school meals in Scotland held in January; what were the corresponding results in 1985; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

The information is as follows:

Education authority, schools (including nursery and special schools)
1986 1985
Number As percentage of pupils present Number As percentage of pupils present
Pupils present on Census day 735,543 — 752,073 —
Pupils taking school meals on payment 179,868 24.4 182,255 24.2
free 136,627 18.6 136,669 18.2
total 316,495 43.0 318,924 42.4
Pupils bringing own food on school premises 82,996 11.1 75,951 10.1

Note: A detailed statement of the returns from education authorities from which these national figures are derived is being placed in the Library.

The following table shows, as percentages of pupils attending their respective sectors, those primary secondary pupils taking meals or bringing their own food.

Primary Secondary
1986 1985 1986 1985
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Pupils taking school meals 47.9 47.5 39.0 38.2
Pupils bringing own food 17.4 15.5 4.5 4.5

All authorities provide two course meals and cafeteria style meals. The take-up of each is as follows:

Pupils taking fixed meals Pupils taking cafeteria meals
1986
Paid 102,684 77,184
Free 107,459 29,168
Total 210,143 106,352
Percentage of pupils present 28.6 14.5
1985
Paid 112,849 69,406

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)
Dundee Inverclyde Motherwell East Kilbride Glengarnock Kilmarnock Fife Cumnock and Doon Valley Total Spend Total Budget Spend
£'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 per cent. £'000 £'000
1981–82 3,569 4.24 970 1.15 6,133 7.29 196 0.23 3,162 3.76 807 0.96 2,970 3.53 689 0.82 84,136 97,800
1982–83 5,230 5.06 1,802 1.74 7,144 6.90 109 0.11 4,370 4.22 2,482 2.40 4,811 4.65 661 0.64 103,462 122,700
1983–84 6,212 6 64 905 0.97 6,492 6.94 143 0.15 4,218 4.51 1,681 1.80 2,783 2.98 581 0.62 93,389 115,900
1984–85 4,138 4.66 1,337 1.51 5,197 5.86 213 0.24 2,262 2.55 1,362 1.54 1,597 1.80 780 0.88 88,722 117,800
1985–86 5.674 5.60 3,339 3.29 5.254 5.18 87 0.09 984 0.97 869 0.86 4,093 4.04 399 0.39 101,312 *131,000
* Estimate.

Notes:

1.The figures in cols (a)-(i) exclude expenditure on running costs and certain other expenditure under the following headings which the Agency does not allocate to districts and regions. Maintenance—Dilapidations, estate land maintenance, security, land marketing signs, fire and engineering insurance. Land and Buildings—Plant and equipment, notice boards, owner controlled insurance, gas, water and electricity supplies, feasibility studies and surveys. Development Grants—Programme for Rural Initiatives and Development, Development of Rural Area Workshops. Better Business Services, Training and Employment Grants Scheme and Craft Grants.

2. Column (j) includes all Agency expenditure.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent by the Scottish Development Agency in (a) Fife and (b) Dunfermline district in each year since it was established; and if he will show these figures as a proportion of total expenditure by the Scottish Development Agency.

Pupils taking fixed meals Pupils taking cafeteria meals
Free 111,715 24,954
Total 224,564 94,360
Percentage of pupils present 29.9 12.5