asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether rents and mortgage payments, respectively, are allowable deductions in assessing the entitlement on income grounds of parents for the provision of free school meals for children in England and Wales.

In arriving at net weekly income for the purpose of assessing entitlement to free school meals in England and Wales both rent and mortgage payments may be deducted from gross income. The other main items of expenditure which may be deducted are income tax, national insurance and superannuation contributions, life assurance premiums, rates, and fares to and from work.