HC Deb 16 July 1931 vol 255 c753
31. Mr. EDWARD WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is prepared to grant power to the local education authority with regard to the provision of boots, etc., for necessitous school children?

Mr. LEES-SMITH

Local authorities have the power when destitution exists to provide relief in kind, which might include the provision of boots, through their public assistance committees. I have no statutory authority to grant this power to local education authorities.