HC Deb 11 March 1941 vol 369 cc1136-7
27. Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what arrangements he has made for a reserve supply of emergency foodstuffs, including chocolate, at schools throughout the country in the event of pupils being detained for several hours in school in consequence of air-raid warnings?

The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Ramsbotham)

I have been asked to reply. In Circular 1535 on A.R.P. for Schools, issued in December, the Board recommended the provision of emergency rations for children unable to leave school at the dinner hour or at the end of the afternoon session in areas subject to prolonged alerts in the daytime. The schools affected are relatively few, and I have no evidence that they have had difficulty in getting suitable supplies.

Mr. Gibson

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why he is replying to this Question, as it refers to schools in Scotland? Does the circular letter that he mentioned in his answer refer to Scotland at all?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The Question on the Paper refers to schools throughout the country.

Mr. Gibson

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I represent a constituency in Scotland, and will he keep it in mind that the subject-matter of this Question is one of very grave anxiety to school teachers there, and that in certain districts in the North with which he is rather unfamiliar the school teachers themselves are doing what they can privately to meet this possible serious emergency?

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