§ 44 Sir Charles Edwardsasked the President of the Board of Education what success has attended his request to local education authorities and the Minister of Food to undertake an accelerated programme for the expansion of school meals; why a maximum of 75 per cent. was fixed for the children who would receive these instead of such provision for every child attending school; and will he reconsider this?
§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Butler)There is every indication that authorities intend to accelerate to the utmost their school meals programmes in response to Circular 1629, but it is as yet too early to give a precise report. Experience suggests that provision for 75 per cent. of the children will usually be sufficient to accommodate all those whose parents wish them to have dinners at school, but I hope that authorities will exceed that figure where necessary. There are some schools in which meals are now being provided for all the children in attendance.