§ 34. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Health what arrangements he makes in co-operation with the Minister of Education in regard to the prices chargeable for school meals to ordinary children and backward children, respectively.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithI assume the hon. Member is referring to ordinary children and those classified as mentally defective. The charges are governed in both cases by the provisions of the relevant statutes. In so far as the local 557 authorities have discretion, however, my right hon. Friend's information does not suggest that in general they fail to co-operate with each other.
§ Mr. JannerDoes not the hon. Lady know that there are discrepancies of a very serious nature, one of which I brought to her notice some little time ago in respect of Fosse Road Occupation Centre, Leicester, a school for backward children, where 1s. was being charged for the meal of a backward child as against 6d. for a normal child? Why on earth do not she and the Minister of Education consult each other with a view to seeing that an equal charge is made to everybody? The charge for normal children by the Ministry of Education is bad enough, but it is a very serious thing that twice as much was being charged in these other cases.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIt is fair that the hon. Member should bear in mind that, under the terms of the Act, considerable discretion in this matter is given to the local authorities. The Minister of Education fixes maximum charges, but the Minister of Health has power to approve the making of charges, which my right hon. Friend has done, the amount to be recovered being within the discretion of the local health authority who make the arrangements.
§ Mr. JannerIs not the position that already a very high price is being charged for meals by the Minister of Education, and does not the hon. Lady think that 9d. is sufficient? Instead of making backward children who are in a very much more difficult position pay 1s. instead of 9d., why should the Ministers not consult each other about it?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend's authority rests with this service provided by the local health authority, and I feel that it is right that the local health authority should have discretion to vary the charges according to the applicant's means.