HC Deb 19 December 1935 vol 307 cc1944-5
76. Mr. SILVERMAN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the statement of the responsible medical officers that malnutrition among Lancashire schoolchildren has seriously increased; and what steps, if any, he is prepared to take to remedy this state of affairs?

Mr. STANLEY

In his annual report for the year, 1934, the school medical officer for Lancashire gives particulars of an increase in malnutrition from 1.75 per cent., in 1933, to 2.19 per cent. in 1934, amongst routine cases. In 1930 the percentage was 2.16. As regards the second part of the question, the school medical officer explains in his report that the provision of free meals and milk is more than keeping pace with the malnutrition discovered at medical inspections.

Mr. SILVERMAN

Is the right hon. Gentleman now prepared to advise the Government to bring to an end once for all this policy of public economy by the starvation of babies?