The Scottish Government

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Table 25: Local authority expenditure ⁽¹⁾ on school meals, 2006-07 and 2007-08

Calculation of expenditure per meal using these figures does not represent the average cost for the food components of school meals. Please read the footnotes below before using information in this table.

(1) Making inter-authority comparisons of the expenditure data is not advisable without knowing exactly what each authority has included/excluded in the figures. (2) Expenditure data for Aberdeen City in 2006/07 included a £1.2 million exceptional charge to settle a backdated equal pay claim covering several years. (3) The collection of expenditure data for Dumfries & Galloway was improved since 2006/07, accounting for the large increase in spend in 2007/08. (4) Local authorities that took part in the trial of free school meals to all pupils in P1-P3 in 2007/08.

Figures are calculated based on final outturn data returned by the 32 Scottish local authorities, but before audit. Therefore there may be small differences when comparing to final audited local authority figures. Blanket guidance for definitions of what should be recorded under "gross expenditure on school meals" is not provided. We expect that in some cases the figures do not include some elements of operating costs (property/admin costs etc.)

STOs (Significant Trading Operations) or PPP contracts may also be a factor. In some authorities the meals service will be managed by STOs, which means that the only cost that the education department incurs is the cost of free meals which is billed to the education department by the catering section.

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