HC Deb 26 March 1953 vol 513 cc809-10
1. Mr. Morley

asked the Minister of Education what effect the increase in the price of school meals has had on the number of children partaking of these meals

5. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Education the daily average of dinners served in schools during the first two weeks in March, 1953; and how this compares with a similar period in 1952.

The Minister of Education (Miss Florence Horsbrugh)

I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave on 19th March to the hon. Members for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) and Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd).

Mr. Morley

In view of the fact that these increased prices have now been in operation for nearly four weeks, and in view of the fact that returns are made to local authorities week by week, is there any reason why the Minister should not announce these figures very shortly?

Miss Horsbrugh

As I said, I am asking local education authorities to let me know the number of school dinners provided on a day in June.

Mr. Dodds

Is there any reason why the figures cannot be made available for the first two weeks in March? Is the Minister aware that this is an important matter? What is the difficulty which prevents that from being done?

Miss Horsbrugh

I will, in June, get the figures for June of this year and June of last year. I think it is unnecessary to ask local education authorities to send in their figures too often. They will get the comparable figures for the date I have given in June.