I read with interest Councillor Kate Groucutt s letter (Viewpoints, Gazette, September 2) about free school meals. Her figures on the increase in the number of children having free school meals don t add up. I have figures from council officers that show

I read with interest Councillor Kate Groucutt's letter (Viewpoints, Gazette, September 2) about free school meals. Her figures on the increase in the number of children having free school meals don't add up. I have figures from council officers that show that since March the number of children taking free school meals in Islington primary schools has actually dropped overall by 6.75 per cent.

In Councillor Groucutt's own ward of Mildmay, St Jude's and St Paul's Primary School has seen an eight per cent fall in the number of children taking a free school meal since March. Perhaps Councillor Groucutt can explain where she got her rather misleading figures? - Councillor Julie Horten, Liberal Democrat member for Highbury East, Islington Council, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1.