School Meals

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the Official Report the information that is available to parents regarding eligibility for free school meals in respect of their children; and if she will make a statement.

The information is as follows:

Number of dependent children			Number of school children in family who can have tree dinners if net weekly income is less than—
			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
1	…	…	38·00	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	…	…	45·40	44·15	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	…	…	52·80	51·55	50·30	—	—	—	—	—
4	…	…	60·20	58·95	57·70	56·45	—	—	—	—
5	…	…	67·60	66·35	65·10	63·85	62·60	—	—	—
6	…	…	75·00	73·75	72·50	71·25	70·00	68·75	—	—
7	…	…	82·40	81·15	79·90	78·65	77·40	76·15	74·90	—
8	…	…	89·80	88·55	87·30	86·05	84·80	83·55	82·30	81·05

3. The following examples illustrate the effect of the scale on one-, two-, and three-child families. The gross income figures shown are estimates, and in individual cases may be higher or lower according to circumstances.

(a) A family with one child at school will be entitled to free meals if parental net income is below £38.00—about £65 gross.;

(b) A family with two children at school will be entitled to free school meals for both of them if parental net income is below £44·15—about £70 gross;

(c) A family with three children at school will be entitled to free school meals for all of them if parental net income is below £50·30—about £75 gross.

4. A proper assessment of net income can only be made by the local education authority, which is familiar with the detailed allowances set out in the regulations, so parents whose circumstances suggest a net income near to the qualifying level are advised to apply. Application forms for free school meals can be obtained from the local office of the local education authority or from the education welfare officer or, in some cases, from the school.

5. Children of parents who get family income supplement or supplementary benefit are entitled to free school meals and do not need to give details of their financial circumstances, though they still have to complete an application form.

1. Whether a child is entitled to receive free school meals is determined by parents' net income—which is less than take come pay. All income from both parents—in a two-parent family—is taken into account, but to calculate net weekly income the following deductions and allowances are made:

(a) income tax, national insurance contributions, superannuation contributions, and the cost of travelling to and from work;

(b) payments for rent or mortgage, and rates;

(c) life assurance premiums;

(d) the first £6 of earnings in a one-parent family, and the first £4 of the earnings of the mother or woman guardian in a two-parent family.

These are the main allowances. Other small allowances relate to parents with special dietary needs or who receive an attendance allowance, etc.

2. Entitlement to free school meals is then determined by reference to the following net income scale, effective from 14th November 1977:

Volume 952: debated on Tuesday 20 June 1978