§ 40. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to an address which has just been given in London by the chief medical officer of the board, in which he referred to the ignorance of the great mass of the population of this country with regard to diet and the preparation of food, whereby the general health of the community was impaired; and whether steps will be taken by the board to see that suitable instruction on these matters is given in all schools which are aided by Government grants?
§ Lord E. PERCYMy attention has been called to this address given by the chief medical officer. The board encourage the provision of instruction of this nature in schools, and I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the syllabus of lessons on the Hygiene of Food and Drink and the Handbook of Suggestions on Health Education which they have published.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIf simple practical lessons on the lines of the Health Society were given to children in schools would they not be able to appreciate that it is as important to keep the body in a healthy state as that houses should be kept up?
§ Lord E. PERCYIf the hon. Member will look at the documents I am sending him, he will see that we are giving precisely the kind of lessons he suggests.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not the case that thousands of wives know all about cooking if they could only get something to cook?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not more necessary to give people the wherewithal to buy food than teach them how to cook it?