HC Deb 27 January 1944 vol 396 cc847-8
34. Sir Charles Edwards

asked the President of the Board of Education what progress has been made in providing meals for schoolchildren since he offered equipment and pre-fabricated huts gratis for this purpose; whether this was done to raise the number of those to be provided for to 3,000,000, and how many would still be left unprovided for.

Mr. Butler

Since the free supply of premises and equipment was announced in May last, 3,850 new proposals have been approved, to make provision for 470,000 additional children. The Government is aiming at provision for 75 per cent. of the pupils in daily attendance at elementary and secondary schools, that is to say about 3,500,000. This percentage is already exceeded at many schools. So far as can be estimated at present, an average over-all provision on this scale will suffice to enable every child to dine at school who wishes to do so.