HC Deb 15 July 1937 vol 326 cc1465-7
35. Mr. Gordon Macdonald

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, the number of elementary school children in receipt of free milk in Lancashire on the latest date for which figures are available?

Mr. Lindsay

During the month of May, 1937, the number of children attending public elementary schools in the geographical county of Lancashire for whom free milk was provided by the local education authorities was 76,313.

36. Mr. Macdonald

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the total number of local education authorities that have decided to grant free milk to elementary school children during the holidays, giving separate figures for Lancashire; and will he take all the steps in the power of his Department to get this done in all cases?

Mr. Lindsay

In the year which ended on 31st March, 1937, 50 local education authorities, including seven authorities in Lancashire, provided free milk for selected necessitous children attending public elementary schools during all or some of the school holidays. I am unable to say how many other authorities have decided to introduce such arrangements, but the London County Council have recently prepared a scheme, which has been approved by the Board of Education, under which milk will be provided during the coming summer holidays in five parks and recreation grounds. My right hon. Friend would welcome the extention of such arrangements, but it is not always easy to secure the attendance of children during the holidays, even when the milk is given free.

Mr. Macdonald

Is the hon. Member aware that the withholding of this permission means hardship on many poor families?

Mr. Lindsay

There is no withholding of permission, to my knowledge.

Viscountess Astor

Will the hon. Member collaborate with the Minister of Health and try to get this milk delivered free not only during holidays?

Mr. Lindsay

That is a separate question.

37. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the difficulties in various parts of the country in obtaining supplies of milk for schoolchildren at small schools; and whether, in view of the fact that in such cases the difficulties of supply leave no profit to the suppliers, he will consider whether some amendment of the scheme can be made so as to ensure that the children at these schools get adequate supplies of milk?

Mr. Lindsay

Yes, Sir. As I said in the answer which I gave on 28th June to the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Drewe), difficulty is being experienced in obtaining supplies of milk in certain rural areas because the suppliers claim that the distribution allowance under the milk-in-schools scheme is insufficient. The future of this scheme is one of the questions which falls for consideration in connection with long-term milk policy, a matter to which the Government are giving close attention, and in this connection the difficulty to which my hon. Friend refers will not be overlooked.

Sir T. Moore

Has the hon. Member any idea how to get over this matter for the moment while the long-term policy is being considered, in view of the fact that at the present time farmers are not able to deliver because of the low prices they get?

Mr. Lindsay

I agree with the hon. and gallant Member about the difficulties of the question, but, as I have said, it is partly owing to the nature of the schools. We will see what can be done of a temporary nature, but it is not easy.