HC Deb 28 September 1939 vol 351 cc1460-1
14. Mr. Ridley

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is satisfied that local authorities are making adequate provision to ensure that school children entitled to a free solid meal will continue to receive it?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)

I have no reason to doubt that, generally speaking, adequate provision is being made for the children in neutral and reception areas. The position in the evacuation areas is more difficult because of the risks involved in the assembling of children; but if steps are taken to limit the number of children assembled at any one time and to provide suitable protection, these risks can be reduced. Certain authorities in the evacuation areas have already reopened their feeding centres with these safeguards and I hope that others will see their way to do so.

Mr. Ridley

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is happening to that large body of school children in neutral and reception areas that had these meals when the schools were open, and will he also draw the attention of the authorities responsible for evacuation areas to the tremendous desirability of continuing the giving of those meals?

Mr. Lindsay

I certainly will.

Miss Wilkinson

Is it not the fact that there are 151 such areas, and is it not, therefore, impossible for the children in the evacuated areas to be fed at school because no arrangements have been made, and could not some arrangements be made by the Board of Education?

Mr. Lindsay

Yes, Sir; we are urging that steps should be taken.

21. Mrs. Adamson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether local authorities will operate a scheme for the provision of cheap milk to those children now remaining in the evacuated areas who previously received it while at school?

Mr. Lindsay

I should welcome a scheme under which children remaining in the evacuation areas could continue to receive milk under the Milk-in-Schools scheme. There are, however, a number of practical difficulties — for example, as to the places at which children would be assembled for this purpose and the numbers who can safely be collected together — and until the question has been further explored I am not in a position to make any definite statement.

Mrs. Adamson

If the local authorities can make satisfactory arrangements, will they be allowed to go on with their schemes?

Mr. Lindsay

We are exploring at this very moment with the Milk Marketing Board and other interested parties methods to satisfy the needs in the evacuation areas, and I hope to be able to make a statement before long.

Miss Wilkinson

If the children are gathered together for education in certain numbers, what is to prevent them from receiving milk in those numbers?

Mr. Lindsay

Nothing, but, unfortunately, they are not banded together.

Mr. Ede

Will the hon. Member consider inviting the local authorities to submit schemes to him?

Mr. Lindsay

Yes, Sir, I will consider any way of expediting this matter.

Mrs. Adamson

What is to hinder children from going to certain centres to receive free milk, if the local authorities will arrange for it?

Mr. Lindsay

There is nothing to prevent it, providing the centres can be found and the children can be assembled. That is what we are now trying to do.