HC Deb 07 January 2004 vol 416 cc366-7W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of children received free school meals in each of the last five years; and what proportion of children were entitled to free school meals in each of the last five years. [146348]

Mr. Miliband

The information requested is given in the tables.

Position in January each year—England
1999 2000 Day Pupils2,32001 2002 20033
Maintained nursery and primary schools1 school meal arrangements
Number on roll 4,507,663 4,481,677 4,451,224 4,405,639 4,350,260
Number of pupils taking free school meals4 690,321 671,486 631,638 616,625 604,911
Percentage of pupil staking free school meals 15.3 15.0 14.2 14.0 13.9
Number of pupils known to be eligible for free meals5 853,020 821,521 784,976 754,511 731,611
Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free meals 18.9 18.3 17.6 17.1 16.8
Maintained secondary schools 1: school meal arrangements
Number on roll 3,118,277 3,177,998 3,226,973 3,260,931 3,308.492
Number of pupils taking free school meals4 367,795 368,303 353,469 354,256 349.777
Percentage of pupil staking free school meals 11.8 11.6 11.0 10.9 10.6
Number of pupils known to be eligible for free meals 527,339 523,630 509,676 486,353 478,915
Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free meals5 16.9 16.5 15.8 14.9 14.5
1Includes middle schools as deemed.
2Day pupils includes all full-time and part-time pupils who are solely or dually registered, excluding boarding pupils. See3 for 2003.
3In 2003 boarding pupils are included.
4 Number of pupils taking a free school meal on the day of the Census in January.
5Prior to 2001 figures relate to the number of pupils known to be eligible for a free school meal. From 2001 this definition was expanded to include only pupils who were known to be eligible for and claiming a free school meal.

Source:

Annual Schools' Census