§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the school meals service in Wales consequent upon the local management of schools.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Government's policy on the future of the school meals service is set out in paragraphs 62 to 64 of Welsh Office circular 36/88, a copy of which is in the Library. We will be prepared to consider excepting the service from delegation to schools where there is a clearly identified need for the local education authority to retain control. However, we would expect the service to be delegated, subject to the overriding provisions of the competition requirements of the Local Government Act 1988, where a school can demonstrate that it is able to provide a service, including appropriate health and nutritional standards, at least as economically as the local education authority.