§ 42. Mr. DINGLE FOOTasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that during the past two years the cost to local authorities of providing meals and clothing for necessitous school children has greatly increased; and whether he will take this factor into account in the proposed readjustment of financial relations between the Exchequer and local authorities?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe expenditure of local education authorities for elementary education on the provision of meals for school children ranks for a grant of 50 per cent. from the Board of Education. The formula on which Exchequer grants under the Local Government Act, 1929, have been and will be calculated, takes account of factors of a general character which, in combination, denote the needs of each area and its ability to pay. It cannot be varied according' to the expenditure of individual authorities on particular services.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the hon. Gentleman say what is the amount of the increase during the past two years?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. DINGLE FOOTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in some areas the expenditure under this head has more than doubled in the last two years?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREAt least half of this expenditure is rate-borne expenditure, and as the amount of new money for a grant period relates to rate-borne expenditure, the new money relates to such provision of meals.
§ Mr. THORNEHas the Department of the hon. Gentleman been responsible for sending out a circular to the effect that when administering transitional benefit, they shall take all the expenses into consideration?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI do not think that that matter arises out of the question.