§ Mr. JAMES PARKER (on behalf of Mr. William Thorne)asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that the last return of the West Ham distress committee showed over 1703 5,000 men and women out of employment; and whether, seeing that there are a number of children dependent on these persons unemployed who are attending the elementary schools, and that the children's care committee state that they cannot feed the children during the school vacation in consequence of such expenditure being illegal, he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BURNSI have seen the return referred to. As I stated in reply to a previous question, as at present advised I am not aware that the education authority would be legally empowered to defray the cost of feeding children during the holidays. Any question of legislation to amend the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education rather than for me.