HC Deb 18 March 1937 vol 321 cc2246-8
40. Mr. Sexton

asked the President of the Board of Education how many free meals were granted in 1936, and how many in January and February, 1937, to pupils attending elementary and secondary schools in County Durham; and how many of such pupils received solid meals and milk meals, respectively?

Mr. Stanley

I regret that I have no information about the number of children receiving free meals in secondary schools, as it is often the practice to give maintenance allowances which may cover, among other expenses, the cost of school dinners. With regard to elementary schools, as the answer contains a table with a number of figures, I am circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the table:

DURHAM.
Provision of Free Meals in Public Elementary Schools.
Local Education Authority. Calendar Year, 1936. Year ended 31st March, 1936.* January, 1937. February, 1937.
Number of free meals provided. Number of children receiving free solid meals. Number of children receiving free milk meals. Number of free meals provided. Number of children receiving free solid meals. Number of children receiving free milk meals. Number of free meals provided. Number of children receiving free solid meals. Number of children receiving free milk meals.
Durham County … 8,774.518 — 25,218 828,727 — 27,941 889,777 — 28,880
Durham Borough … 51,296 Free meals were not provided until April, 1936. 6,534 — 346 † † †
Hartlepool … 68,084 — 385 4,606 — 312 6,352 — 354
Jarrow … 211,962 358 401 32,184 237 1,759 41,044 244 1,906
Stockton-on-Tees … 272,816 649 1,555 19,154 259 1,021 21,073 261 992
Felling … 78,367 413 — 5,876 331 — 5,996 323 —
Hebburn … 112,401 610 — 9,762 471 — 9,765 488 —
Darlington … 226,294 — 700 16,144 — 635 20,025 — 668
Gateshead … 540,240 803 2,034 50,046 462 2,240 57,435 467 2,280
South Shields … 461,832 2,059 1,323 38,193 878 997 38,538 871 1,013
Sunderland … 696,647 1,331 1,973 62,552 797 2,522 † † †
West Hartlepool … 125,657 — 501 12,069 — 631 † † †
Totals … 11,620,114 6,223 34,090 1,085,847 3,435 38,404 1,090,005 2,654 36,093
* Figures showing the number of children receiving free meals are not available for the calendar year.
† Figures not yet available.