§ 52. Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can give any information in connection with two boys that have been expelled from the Poole Grammar School for smoking out of school hours; and what action he intends taking in the matter?
Mr. LindsayMy Noble Friend is making inquiries into this matter and when further information has been received I will communicate with the hon. Member.
§ Mr. ThorneCan the Parliamentary Secretary give me any indication as to when I might put down the question again?
§ Mr. ThorneI will put it down again next Thursday.
§ 53. Mr. Dunnasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many reports have reached his Department from England and Wales showing malnutrition amongst school children up to the nearest available date; and what action he is taking in the matter?
Mr. LindsayThe school medical officers' annual reports for all areas in England and Wales include statistics of the assessment of the nutrition of children examined at routine medical inspection during the year 1937. In 260 out of the 315 areas some children are shown to be suffering from bad nutrition but in many cases the number is very small, often only one or two out of several thousand children examined, and the total number of such children represents 0.6 per cent. of the number examined. In addition, 10.7 per cent. are shown to have slightly subnormal nutrition. The adequacy of the provision for the supply of free meals or milk to necessitous under-nourished children is kept under review by the Board and in appropriate cases the matter is taken up with the local education authority.
§ Mr. DunnIs the hon. Member satisfied that the measures now being taken by local authorities are effecting an improvement in regard to the children in their areas?
Viscountess AstorIs my hon. Friend aware that some local authorities are doing little or nothing and that there are 193,000 mal-nourished children in the country?
Mr. LindsayI would not vouch for the exact figures, but I have said before that there is inequality of performance.
§ Mr. R. J. TaylorCan the Minister state whether in regard to this question of malnutrition the Board lay down any time limit for the examination of the children?
§ Mr. LipsonIs the hon. Member satisfied that the tests as to nutrition and malnutrition are satisfactory?
Mr. LindsayI dealt with this matter in some detail when the Vote before the Department was debated. I am not completely satisfied.
Miss RathboneIs it not the case that the best test of whether a child is malnourished is whether the income of the home is sufficient?