HC Deb 29 May 1936 vol 312 cc2385-6
20. Mr. DAY

ask the President of the Board of Education the number of children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales that were supplied with milk or milk meals for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, either free or for payment, and the quantity of milk supplied; and the separate figures for the borough of South-wark and comparable figures for the year 1931?

Lieut.-Colonel Sir A. LAMBERT WARD (Comptroller of the Household)

I have been asked to reply. As the answer contains a considerable number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. DAY

Is the Minister not aware that some of these quantities have been reduced?

Sir A. LAMBERT WARD

That is not my information, but perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put a Question down.

Following is the answer:

The latest figures available for the number of children who received free milk at any time during a period of 12 months are those for the year ended on 31st March, 1935, during which 303,659' children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales received free milk. The corresponding figures for the year ended 31st March, 1936, are expected to show a substantial increase. In the year ended 31st March, 1931, the corresponding figure was 73,798. Figures are not available showing the number of children who received milk for payment during a period of 12 months, but on 1st October, 1935, 2,235,928 children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales were paying for milk. These figures include liquid milk supplied under the Milk in Schools Scheme and a small quantity of milk supplied outside that Scheme, together with preparations of dried milk, etc. The total amount of milk supplied under the Milk in Schools Scheme during the 12 months ended on 31st March, 1936, was 22,680,536 gallons, but this includes milk supplied to grant-aided schools other than public elementary schools. The quantity of milk supplied to individual children is usually one-third pint per day, but a larger amount up to a pint a day is frequently given to under-nourished children who receive free milk, and a few children pay for two one-third-pint bottles a day. On 1st October, 1935, 1,305 children attending public elementary schools in the Borough of Southwark were receiving free milk and 15,025 were paying for milk. In the year 1931, 491 children in those schools received free milk. No information is available as to the number of children paying for milk in 1931.