10. Mr. DAVIDSONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of school children in Glasgow receiving free meals as necessitous cases for the first six months of 1936?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe average daily number during the period referred to was 8,996. In addition, 52,648 necessitous children received free milk under a scheme approved under the provisions of the Milk Act, 1934.
Mr. DAVIDSONDoes the figure with regard to free meals represent children who have been defined as necessitous cases suffering from malnutrition?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThese are necessitous cases.
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe point is necessitous cases. If the hon. Member wishes a further definition and will put a question down, I will try to get it for him.
§ 14. Mr. WATSONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that instructions are being issued to public assistance committees in Scotland to refrain from supplying boots and clothing to necessitous children in view of the coming into operation of the Unemployment Assistance Regulations; and, as some time must elapse before new determinations can be made under these regulations, whether he will see that the public assistance committees continue to do their duty to the children meantime?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI have no knowledge of the issue of any such instructions to public assistance committees in Scotland. If the hon. Member has any information, I shall be glad to receive it and to make any inquiries that may be necessary.
§ Mr. WATSONHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the statement made at the meeting of the Fife County Council?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI say that any information that the hon. Gentleman can send me I will very gladly investigate.
§ 17. Mr. STEPHENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pairs of old boots, which had been worn by other children, were supplied by the education authority in Glasgow to children of parents in necessitous circumstances last year while their own boots were under repair; and whether he will take the necessary steps to put an end to this insanitary practice?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am now informed by the local authority that the number asked for in the Question is approximately 13,400 in the last 12 months. Of this number, about 400 were issued on behalf of the education authority, and about 13,000 on behalf of the public assistance department. The authority state that these boots are only issued to children who have already received two pairs of new boots in a year; that the boots are always in good condition, and 999 that they have no evidence that there is any medical risk in the exceptional procedure referred to. I am making further inquiry into the question whether this procedure involves any risk to health, and am inquiring from the local authority how the discrepancy between this information and the information previously supplied has arisen.