§ 1. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Education what is the fall in the number of children taking school dinners since the latest increase of 2d. per meal, both nationally and for Salford in particular, including the autumn figures.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)The autumn figures are 9,717 for Salford and 2,815,307 for England and Wales, excluding Nottinghamshire, for which the return is not yet available. These figures show a fall of about 1,050 and about 210,200 on those for 1956.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes not the Minister think these figures are very serious? Does not he agree that a good meal is as vital to a child's education as a good school teacher, and that this miserable financial economy cannot justify the damage to the health of so many children?
§ Sir E. BoyleOne has to remember that the fall in numbers is, in part, the result of fewer children being present at school as a result of the 'flu epidemic. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Certainly there were nearly 1,000 fewer children at school at Salford, and nearly 170,000 fewer in England and Wales, which is a big difference.
§ Mr. AllaunIs not the Minister aware that five weeks ago he told me that the delay in introducing the figures was due to the 'flu epidemic, and that clearly the epidemic has gone since the hon. Gentleman has produced the figures?
§ Sir E. BoyleThe hon. Gentleman asked for the autumn figures, and the 'flu epidemic is relevant to those figures.
§ 9. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education the number of children taking 583 school meals in Wales during October in the years 1957, 1956 and 1951, respectively.
§ Sir E. Boyle172,864 this year, 189,450 last year and 187,170 in 1951.
§ Mr. ThomasIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the teaching profession, without whom he could not carry on the school meals, are thoroughly fed up with his failure to honour the promises made by the Department right through the year? When will he give teachers a fair deal in connection with the school meals service?
§ Sir E. BoyleDo not let us be too gloomy about the school meals service. The meal is still extremely good value at a shilling. At the start of the war, in 1940, one in thirty children were having the meals, whereas it was one in three in 1945, and today is very nearly half.
§ Mr. ThomasIn view of the fact that the Minister has completely misunderstood me and I should like to have a satisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.
§ Sir E. BoyleI did not mean to be discourteous to the hon. Member. I thought his Question—
§ Mr. ThomasMy supplementary question—
§ Sir E. Boyle—related to the number of children taking school meals.