HC Deb 17 April 1935 vol 300 cc1846-7
52. Mr. THORNE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what requests he has received from local education authorities and from the Association of Education Committees during 1934 to the nearest available date for the power to provide boots and shoes for necessitous school children from educational funds; whether it is the intention of the Government during the present Parliament to introduce legislation to give power to the local authorities to provide proper footwear to necessitous school children; and, if not, whether local education authorities will be surcharged if they provide necessitous school children with proper footwear?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)

Since December, 1933, the Board have received requests from three local education authorities and from the Association of Education Committees that powers should be given to provide boots and shoes for necessitous children from educational funds. It is not proposed to introduce legislation such 'as the hon. Member suggests.

The question whether a local education authority will be surcharged if they provide footwear is one for the decision of the district auditor.

Mr. THORNE

If the hon. Gentleman has not visited some of the poor schools in certain parts of the country, will he do so and see for himself the deplorable condition in which some of the children are, owing to bad footwear? Perhaps when he has done so, he will reconsider his decision.

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

That is a matter for the authorities who are charged with the relief of necessity, and is not a matter for the Board.

Mr. PALING

Is it not the case that the health of the children suffers as a result of defective footwear, and that absenteeism among children is much higher than it would be if boots and shoes were provided; and, in view of these facts and the constant requests of local authorities for power in this matter, cannot the Board take up the question and give these authorities the necessary powers?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

As I have said, this is a question of the relief of necessity and is not a matter for my Department.

Mr. PALING

But in view of the special character of this question, is it not time that the Board intervened in order to get something done?

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