Free School Meal Allowances Dr. Mawhinney asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the cost of providing free school meal allowances throughout school holidays to those at present entitled to receive them. Dr. Boyson Information on the number of pupils entitled to receive free meals is not available. However, if the 856,000 pupils receiving free meals in the autumn term 1981 received a cash benefit of 50p per day during school holidays—excluding weekends—the cost would be about £30 million.