HC Deb 03 July 1935 vol 303 cc1862-3
56. Mr. CLEARY

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that in the city of Liverpool the Unemployment Assistance Board is making deductions in respect of meals given to necessitous school children; under what regulation of the Board this is done, and whether he will take steps to have the practice stopped, in view of the fact that the Board of Education, by making grants towards the cost, is encouraging the granting of such meals, particularly in industrial areas, in order to enable children to benefit from the education afforded in the schools?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)

I am informed that the Board's practice in the treatment of school meals is as set out in the Appendix to the Memorandum on the Unemployment Assistance Regulations, 1934, presented to Parliament in January last (Cmd. 4791). As indicated there, the Board entirely ignores all meals given upon a doctor's certificate that a child is suffering from a specific pathological condition and also all those consisting of milk and other special forms of provision. Moreover, other meals are only taken into account where they exceed 12 a week and the adjustment made in the allowance is based on a moderate estimate of the saving to the household, approximately one penny per meal. The Board inform me that they are keeping a close watch on the working of these arrangements.

Mr. CLEARY

Will the meals in question granted to the necessitous school children come under the exemption mentioned by the hon. Member in his reply?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

I cannot answer that question without notice.

Mr. CLEARY

Is it within the knowledge of the hon. and gallant Gentleman that deductions of the character mentioned are being made in the city of Liverpool?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

I understand that that is so. It is being made in accordance with the Instruction made last January.

Mr. CLEARY

In view of the fact that the Board of Education make a grant of 50 per cent. towards the cost of these meals and by recent circular are endeavouring to encourage, very definitely, their provision in industrial areas, is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that his reply and the action of the Unemployment Assistance Board is militating against the policy of the Board of Education?

Lieut.-Colonel MUIRHEAD

I can only say that the Board are acting under the powers granted to them by the House.

Mr. GEORGE GRIFFITHS

If the public assistance committee give these meals without taking them into account, what authority have these other people for taking them into account because there is a standstill order? Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer that question?