§ 57. Sir R. THOMASasked the President of the Board of Education how far local education authorities provide meals, milk, cod-liver oil and malt extract, or other nourishment to children in the necessitous areas who are suffering from malnutrition and whose parents are not in a position to provide them with sufficient food; what authorities, if any, in the North and South Wales coalfields are so providing for the children; and, if the powers of the education authority clash with those of the Poor Law authority, will he take steps to co-ordinate the functions of the two bodies?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Duchess of Atholl)At the present time, approximately 120 local education authorities are providing meals or other nourishment for necessitous children. The authorities in the Welsh coalfields who 835 are undertaking such provision are Monmouth, Glamorgan, Cardiff, Merthyr, Newport, Swansea, Aberdare, Abertillery, Barry, Pontypridd, and Rhondda. Arrangements have been made for securing close co-operation between the education and the Poor Law authorities.