HC Deb 09 July 1936 vol 314 cc1377-80
22. Mr. T. SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give a list of those local education authorities which are exercising their powers under Sections 82–84 of the Education Act, 1921, only to the extent of providing free milk for necessitous children?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

Some 106 local education authorities are exercising their powers under Sections 82–84 of the Education Act, 1921, only to the extent of providing free milk for necessitous children. I am sending the hon. Member a list of these authorities.

23. Mr. SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give for the latest convenient year a list, by type of local education authority, showing for each town or area, separately, the number of meals provided free, for payment, and total meals; and the number of children fed, distinguishing what meals are provided, i.e., breakfast, dinner, tea, or milk or cod liver oil only, and the average cost for each meal for each type given and for all types together?

Mr. STANLEY

The preparation of the information required in respect of each area separately would involve a disproportionate amount of labour. I am, however, sending the hon. Member a return giving for the year 1934–35 (which is the latest period for which figures are at present available) a summary of the information required arranged by types of local education authorities.

27. Miss CAZALET

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider making arrangements whereby schoolchildren who are receiving milk in school under the Milk Marketing Scheme may also be provided with this milk during the holiday times?

Mr. STANLEY

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, East (Mr. Hepworth) last Monday, of which I am sending her a copy.

39. Mr. EDWARD DUNN

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that 34 county councils in England and 10 county councils in Wales are complaining that they cannot provide supplies of milk for the children in their elementary schools, either as a whole or part of their schools; and will he give the reasons for this position and state what he is prepared to do to remedy this state of affairs?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Elliot)

I am aware that in certain areas, where only few school children are taking milk, difficulties have been experienced in obtaining supplies on the terms applicable to the milk-in-schools scheme. If the hon. Member will send me particulars of any schools which have been unable to obtain supplies, I will forward the information to the Milk Marketing Board, who have already been successful in arranging for supplies to be made available in other cases.

Mr. DUNN

Is the Minister aware that practically all the schools that are now on the schedule are in areas where milk is being produced, and are mainly agricultural areas?

Mr. ELLIOT

Yes, Sir, but that does not alter the fact that it is in distribution where the difficulty lies, and it is just as difficult to distribute milk to people whether they are in an area where milk is being produced or whether they are in an area where it is not being produced.

Mr. DUNN

Are there not over 1,000 schools in agricultural areas in this country where milk cannot be obtained for children in elementary schools?

Mr. ELLIOT

That matter, as the hon. Member well knows, is being considered in association with the county councils. They have already agreed to write to the Board of Education and the Milk Marketing Board, and after these negotiations have been carried through we shall be able to carry the matter further on the Floor of the House.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

Instead of waiting for all this correspondence, and for committees and conferences, would it not be better that the Government should recognise that it is their duty to ensure the distribution of this milk?

Mr. ELLIOT

If we were to carry out the original suggestion of the hon. Gentleman's friends of a penny per gallon for service instead of sixpence, we should have greater difficulty still.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I would be happier if they charged nothing for the service?

Mr. ELLIOT

The hon. Member would be happier if we were paying nothing for the service, but we should not get the milk distributed at all.

Mr. WILLIAMS

You do not get it distributed now.