1A

A local education authority shall, if requested to do so by or on behalf of any registered pupils at a school maintained by the authority, provide school lunches for those pupils; but the authority shall not be required to provide a school lunch—

a

where in the circumstances it would be unreasonable for them to do so, or

b

where the pupil in question has not attained compulsory school age and is being provided with part-time education.

1B

Any school lunches provided by a local education authority under subsection (1A) may—

a

be provided either on the school premises or at any place other than the school premises where education is being provided for the pupils in question; and

b

take such form as the authority think fit.

a

shall so exercise their power under subsection (1) as to ensure that a school lunch is provided for him, which shall be provided free of charge, and

b

if in the exercise of that power they provide him with milk, shall provide it free of charge.

6

In this section “school lunch”, in relation to a pupil, means food made available for consumption by the pupil as his midday meal on a school day, whether involving a set meal or the selection of items by him or otherwise.