§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the total number of children receiving free school meals in each year since 115W 1983; and if he will estimate the number of children receiving free school meals after the Social Security Act is implemented.
§ Mr. DunnThe information requested on the take-up of free shcool meals in England since 1983 is available in the "Annual School Meals Census", reports on which are available in the Library. Information was not collected in 1985 because of the teachers' dispute.
The estimated number of children in England expected to receive free meals on implementation of the Social Security Act 1986, when it comes into force in April 1988, is about 800,000.