28. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Prime Minister whether the effect of the Government's decision that the cost of school feeding this year in excess of £300,000 must be borne by boards of guardians, instead of by local education authorities as in the past, will be that children so fed cannot get meals unless their parents receive poor law relief; and, under these circumstances, will the Government reconsider the matter and allow the same arrangements for school feeding to continue as in the past and make a grant from the Exchequer to relieve the Education Vote of the sum required in excess of £300,000?
§ Mr. FISHERI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on the 3rd of this month, and to the answer given to the hon. Member for Abertillery by myself on the 1st of this month. The Government have given the matter full consideration, but do not feel able to adopt the course suggested.
Mr. THOMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the children are to be fed it means the transfer of the charge from the Exchequer to the rates, 1780 which are already overburdened? Will the Government reconsider the matter if they are desirous that the children should be fed?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is really an argument on the question.
§ Captain W. BENNWould the receipt of such a meal by the child disqualify, electorally, the father under the Poor Law?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere seems to be agreement on that point.