asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of providing school meals in the ILEA for the years 1975–76, 1976–77 and the estimate for 1977–78; and what was the revenue received from school meal charges.

The total cost of providing school meals and the revenue from school meals charges in the ILEA in 1975–76 were respectively £24,435,893 and £5,112,428. My Department does not receive estimates from local education authorities relating to school meals income and expenditure for future years.