§ 21. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what steps have been taken to deal with the provision of suitable school buildings and adequate arrangements for milk and other meals, as recommended by the report on Anti-Tuberculosis Services in Wales?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)As regards school buildings, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 8th June last. Since that date the outbreak of war has interrupted the improvement of school buildings which was under way, and at the moment it is not possible to forecast the rate of progress which it will be possible to achieve in this respect in the immediate future. As regards the provision of milk and meals, the Board has addressed letters to 26 of the 30 local education authorities in Wales, and in 16 of these cases replies had been received, before the outbreak of war, which promised improvements in the authorities arrangements. The Board propose to continue, so far as is practicable in present circumstances, their endeavour to secure an extension of any arrangements which are clearly inadequate for the needs of the area.
§ Mr. GriffithsWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that evacuation, both official and unofficial, has led to a very large increase in the school population in Wales, and that, therefore, these measures are very much more urgent now?
§ Mr. LindsayI recognise that.