| Year. | Numbers in age groups examined. | No. whose nutrition was stated to be below average. | Percentage of total examined. | No. whose nutrition was stated to be very poor. | Percentage of total examined. | ||
| 1224–5 | … | … | 215,288 | 15,040 | 7.0 | 391 | .18 |
| 1925–6 | … | … | 243,595 | 15,990 | 6.2 | 340 | .14 |
| 1926–7 | … | … | 237,692 | 14,956 | 6.3 | 364 | .15 |
| 1927–8 | … | … | 249,142 | 16,252 | 6.7 | 359 | .14 |
| 1928–9 | … | … | 254,044 | 14,876 | 5.9 | 319 | .13 |
§ The total number of children on the school registers in 1928–29 was 814,836. If the percentages given above are applied to the whole school population the approximate numbers for 1928–29 would be:
| Nutrition below average | 47,749 | |
| Nutrition very poor | 1,059 |
§ The children whose nutrition is below average are not necessarily being underfed, but where it is brought to the notice of the education authority by medical inspection or otherwise that a child is, owing to lack of food, unable to take full advantage of the education provided, it is the duty of the authority to take steps to provide for the necessities of the case, or to secure that provision is made, by the procedure prescribed in Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908. I have no reason to think that education authorities are neglectful of their statutory duty in this matter.
1140§ suffering from malnutrition in Scottish schools; and what steps are being taken to provide for these children?
§ Mr. JOHNSTONAs the answer is somewhat long and contain.5 a number of figures, I propose, with my hon. Friend's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The total number of children suffering from malnutrition in any year cannot be stated exactly as complete figures are available only for the three age groups examined each year. The numbers in these age groups, the numbers whose nutrition was stated to be below the average, the numbers whose nutrition was stated to be very poor and the percentage ratios which the numbers in these two categories bore to the total numbers in the age groups examined were as follows in the school years 1924–5 to 1928–9: