§ 66. Brigadier-General SPEARSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will issue instructions that free milk shall be given to all children 1941 of school age whose parents are unemployed persons on the means test, in view of the desirability of the maximum number of children getting milk at school and of the fact that unemployed persons on the means test cannot in most cases afford to pay for milk for their children?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Oliver Stanley)The conditions under which local education authorities may provide free milk for children attending public elementary schools are governed by the terms of Section 84 of the Education Act, 1921, and under that Section I have no power to issue the instructions which my hon. Friend desires. I would invite the attention of the hon. Member to the board's Circular 1443 issued on Monday last, which sets out the board's policy on the selection of children for provision of meals, and of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
§ Brigadier-General SPEARSDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the children of the people who stint themselves in order to feed their children adequately are penalised as compared with those of the people who neglect their children?
§ Mr. STANLEYPerhaps the hon. and gallant Member will look at the Circular I have issued.