27. Mr. David Adamsasked the President of the Board of Education what proportion of evacuated school children are being fed under arrangements for communal meals; and whether this, if satisfactory, is to be extended to all children in any areas?
§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Ramsbotham)No information is available as to the proportion of evacuated school children fed at communal feeding centres. About no new centres have been established for evacuated school children and in addition, meals for such children are in many cases being provided by an extension of existing canteen arrangements. The question of communal feeding for evacuated and other school children is fully discussed in the Board's Circular 1520, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. While I should welcome a large extension of communal feeding for the classes of children mentioned in the circular and have offered substantially increased rates of grant for that purpose, the communal feeding of all school children in all areas would be impracticable on account of difficulties of premises and equipment, and it is certain that many parents, and also many householders with whom evacuated children are billeted, would not desire to take advantage of such facilities.
Mr. AdamsAs the Minister will be aware that many directors of education are strongly advocating communal feeding as against meals being provided by foster parents, can he say that his Department will give all its weight in the direction of communal feeding?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe hon. Member will see from the circular, a copy of which I am sending him, that my Department have provided very substantial inducements to local authorities. We hope that they will take advantage of them.
§ Mr. Kenneth LindsayAre the 110 centres provided by local authorities or voluntary societies?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI could not say offhand.