§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the cost of providing(a) milk tokens and (b) free school meals to family credit recipients (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total family credit budget.[36245]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is set out in the table.
Cash 1997–98 (£ millions) As a percentage of the Family Credit budget Cost of providing milk tokens to Family Credit recipients 50 Less than 0.5 Cost of providing free school meals to Family Credit recipients 200 Less than 1 Notes:
1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £50 million. The heavy rounding of the figures reflects uncertainties as to the exact cost of the provision, future take-up, and estimates of the numbers entitled.
2. No account has been taken of the fact that Family Credit recipients already receive the equivalent of milk tokens partly through an addition to their Family Credit benefit rates for purchasing liquid milk and partly through being able to purchase infant formula at NHS clinics at a reduced rate. In addition, provision is made in Family Credit for the replacement cash value of free school meals.