HC Deb 22 October 1991 vol 196 cc634-5W
Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing how many people were classified as homeless in(a) Renfrew district, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland in each year since 1975; if he will express the percentage change in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The available information relates to households who applied to local authorities under the homeless persons legislation, which came into operation in 1978. These statistics are conventionally presented for financial rather than calendar years. The numbers of such households assessed by local authorities as homeless in Renfrew district, Strathclyde and Scotland in the years 1978–79 to 1989–90 are set out in the following table. Figures for 1990–91 are not yet available.

each authority to fulfil their statutory duty to provide free meals for pupils from families in receipt of income support.

The average cost to pupils of school meals is not collected centrally. Pupils can obtain either a fixed meal at a set charge or a cafeteria style meal for which the charge will vary depending on individual pupil's choice. The table gives details of the fixed price meal charge levied by each regional authority in each year since 1975. The level of the charge made is entirely at the discretion of the regional authority.

Region or Island authority 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Lothian 15 15 25 25 30 35 35 35 45 45 150 150 150 150 155 155 160
255 255 255 255 260 260 265
Strathclyde 15 15 25 25 30 35 40 45 50 53 55 58 61 63 64 67 79
Tayside 15 15 25 25 30 35 40 45 50 145 50 55 60 60 65 65 65
250
Orkney 15 15 25 25 30 35 35 40 50 50 50 55 60 60 60 70 70
Shetland 15 15 25 25 30 35 35 35 35 45 50 50 55 60 60 65 75
Western Isles 15 15 25 25 30 35 35 40 45 60 65 65 65 65 70 70 70
1Primary.
2Secondary.
3Standard Meal.
4Mini Meal.

Notes: 1. Except where indicated otherwise the same charge applied to both primary and secondary schools.

2. Prior to 1981 charges for a fixed price meal were set by statutory regulation on national basis.

3. The charges for 1991 have not yet been published.