§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the exhaustion of the funds for the provision of free meals to destitute school children in Manchester and elsewhere; and whether, since the destitution is as great as ever, the Government proposes introducing on an early day a measure to enable the education authorities to provide the cost of such meals out of the rates.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURSuch information as I have received from Manchester does not show that these funds to which the hon. Member refers are exhausted. The Answer to the second Part of the Question is in the negative.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)If we show that such conditions exist in London, will the Government arrange to give some temporary assistance?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is an entirely different Question from the one on the Paper.
§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the Report of the Physical Deterioration Committee on this point?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am not prepared to make any statement of police in answer to supplementary Questions. It we have any measures to propose, they should be formally submitted.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEAre these starving children to be allowed to perish of hunger in their thousands because His Majesty's Government refuse to give the local authorities power to supply them with food?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAccording to such information as I have been able to obtain that is not the case in Manchester. If His Majesty's Government were to bring forward a measure such as the hon. Member suggests it could not deal with the existing situation, or be operative for weeks and months.