§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that dissatisfaction prevails in the county of Glamorgan owing to the failure of the education authority to administer the Provision of Meals Act in an effective manner; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the matter on the spot, in order to ascertain if necessitous children are really being left unfed by this authority?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Joseph Pease)Representations have been made to the Board with reference to the matter referred to in the first part of the question. I must remind the hon. Member that the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, is permissive in character and that it rests with the local education authority to decide whether they will take any steps under it. An order was issued by the Board in June last sanctioning expenditure under the Act in certain parishes in the county of Glamorgan up to 31st March, 1912. If the hon. Member will bring to my notice any instances of inability on the part of children, owing to lack of food, to take full advantage of the education provided for them, I shall be glad to communicate with the local education authority in respect of them.