§ Mr. SarwarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children received free school meals in each year since 1979; and what proportion of children this represents. [44205]
§ Mr. WilsonThe information requested is shown in the table.
Education authority schools: number and percentage of pupils receiving free school meals in Scotland 1979–80 to 1996–97 Year Number of pupils present on census day Number of pupils taking free school meals Percentage of pupils taking free school meals 1979–80 867,816 122,618 14.1 1980–81 867,786 114,711 13.2 1981–82 823,646 124,547 15.1 1982–83 814,506 132,953 16.3 1983–84 756,735 129,335 17.1 1984–85 752,073 136,669 18.2 1985–86 735,543 136,627 18.6 1986–87 729,869 143,194 19.6 1987–88 729,505 145,219 19.9 1988–89 713,034 105,232 14.8 1989–90 704,357 99,303 14.1 1990–91 698,554 101,915 14.6 1991–92 695,201 107,186 15.4 1992–93 687,081 107,709 15.7 1993–94 727,101 121,479 16.7 1994–95 729,089 121,123 16.6 1995–96 730,835 121,318 16.6 1996–97 731,096 115,421 15.8