Education (Provision of Meals) Act.

HC Deb 14 May 1908 vol 188 cc1337-8

MR. GEORGE ROBERTS

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether instructions have been issued to local education authorities restricting the application of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, by insisting that the Board's sanction be secured for monthly periods; and whether he will consider the advisability of allowing education authorities to administer the Act according to the needs of the children instead of by seasonal considerations or time periods.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. RUNCIMAN,) Dewsbury

The sanctions, to which my hon. friend refers, were expressly stated to be of a temporary character to allow of the consideration by the Board of certain general questions arising at the commencement of the second year's working of the Act. These questions have now been determined, and I propose in future, as a general rule, where the conditions imposed by the Act are satisfied, to issue Orders, the operation of which will extend to the end of each financial year.