Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 9 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 July 2007. It was answered by Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 July 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

School Meals: Take-Up

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children in English schools took school meals in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Information on the quality, availability and uptake of school meals is not held centrally. However, data from the school census shows the proportion taking free school meals as at January 2007 was 13.1 per cent. in maintained nursery and primary schools and 9.6 per cent. in maintained secondary schools. This compares with 13.3 per cent. and 9.9 per cent. respectively for January 2006. Figures for earlier years cannot be provided due to time constraints.Also, figures from the School Food Trust’s 2006 annual survey of school meals take-up in England showed that take-up of school meals in 2005-06 was 42.3 per cent. in primary schools and 42.7 per cent. in secondary schools. Findings from the 2007 survey will be available in August.

Secondary information