§ 29. Sir Reginald Blairasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in view of the disclosure that bad cooking and bad meal planning result in food wastage in Army units owing to an inadequate supply of capable cooks that might otherwise be drawn from civil life, he will take the initiative and make cooking and housekeeping a more important part of the education of children in all schools?
§ Mr. LindsayThe training of cooks for His Majesty's Forces is not a matter falling within the Board's province. Cookery has, however, long been a regular subject in the general education of older girls in public elementary and secondary schools. There are also trade schools for girls and one for boys desiring vocational training in cookery, and some 80,000 older students attend day or 1348 evening classes in the subject. The need for promoting the right use of food and preventing waste in its preparation was emphasised by the Board in a Circular dated 31st January, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.