School Meals (Hansard, 25 February 1943)

§ 30. Mr. Burke
asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the small percentage of children taking school meals, either free or purchased, in the local authority areas of Lancashire and Cheshire; and what steps he proposes to take to effect an improvement?

§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Butler)
In most of the areas to which the hon. Member refers the percentage of children taking school meals is well up to, and in a number considerably above, the average for the country generally. In all places where the numbers were small last October substantial schemes are in hand, and I will continue to press for further development.

§ Mr. Burke
Does not that mean that the rest of the country must be low; and what steps are being taken to improve the position?

§ Mr. Butler
The great thing to remember is that they are not low as compared with a year ago. In fact, the numbers have been approximately quadrupled. Steps are taken to encourage schemes, and I am glad to say that the areas to which the hon. Member refers come under those schemes. We are trying to press ahead as fast as we can.

§ Mr. Kenneth Lindsay
Is my right hon. Friend aware that recently the charge per day has been increased by 6d. and that the numbers have gone down in some places?

§ Mr. Butler
Perhaps the hon. Member will give me particulars.

§ 31. Mr. Lindsay
asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is his intention to make the provision of school meals a free service; and what other free services in kind are being contemplated?

§ Mr. Butler
I am considering both these matters in the light of the statements made on behalf of the Government during the recent Debate on the Beveridge Report.

§ Mr. Lindsay
Does my right hon. Friend realise that there are important implications? Does he mean that the Board of Education is pledged to free meals, and will be consider the question I put on a previous occasion that at the present moment there is urgency because the cost is going up?

§ Mr. Butler
I have just said that I will consider the last point made by the hon. Gentleman. As regards the first point, I would refer him to the statements made by the Lord President and the Home Secretary. He will see that their implications are very wide. That is why I propose to give the House any information I can at the earliest possible moment when I have had a chance to consider the implications.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Does that mean that if my right hon. Friend is to consider the provision of free meals for school children in the light of what was said by his right hon. Friends last week, the provision of meals will not be put into operation until the Beveridge plan has been considered as a whole?

§ Mr. Butler
The great thing is that I propose to press ahead with the provision of children's welfare as quickly as I can in existing circumstances. The only difficulty will be to make the complete provision I would like, because the equipment and other necessaries will necessitate rather slow progress, but I hope to go ahead as fast as I can.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Does that mean that my right hon. Friend will introduce this desirable social reform, which everybody agrees with, in spite of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

§ Mr. Butler
The first thing I shall do is to extend the provision of meals and milk in schools. The second thing I shall do is to make a statement to the House about the implications of the statements made by my colleagues.