§ 5. Mr. Lewisasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education what protests he has received from the Education Authority of the County Borough of West Ham over the price of school meals; what was the nature of the recent protest, and his reply; and whether he will give details of the fall-off of meals taken at school in West Ham for each of the years from 1951.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)The West Ham Local Education Authority wrote to the Ministry on 22nd March and a reply was sent on 2nd April last; I am sending the hon. Member a copy of these letters. As the answer to the last part of the Question contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LewisWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that a number of hon. Gentlemen, both on this side of the House and the Government side, would like to know the details of the protest? Will the hon. Gentleman therefore circulate it in HANSARD? Will not the figures which he mentions confirm that each time the price of the meals has gone up there has been a fall-off in the number of children taking school meals? Will he do something to bring down the price of these meals?
§ Sir E. BoyleThe figures for West Ham to which this Question relates, while falling sharply between 1952 and 1953, have fluctuated quite a good deal since from year to year. I cannot say what other factors besides the change in the charge may have contributed to this fluctuation.
§ Following is the information:
§ The annual returns submitted by the West Ham Authority give these figures for a selected day in the autumn of each year:
| Year | Number of pupils taking the school dinner | This number as a percentage of the pupils present | |
| 1951 | … | 10,523 | 41.2 |
| 1952 | … | 11,260 | 42.4 |
| 1953 | … | 9,035 | 34.7 |
| 1954 | … | 9,356 | 34.1 |
| 1955 | … | 9,825 | 36.5 |
| 1956 | … | 9,480 | 34.6 |
11. Mrs. Slaterasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the number of school meals provided for the months of February, March, April, and May for 1956 and 1957, respectively.
§ Sir E. BoyleI regret that this information is not available, as my Department's returns relate to a selected date in the autumn.
Mrs. SlaterDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that in almost every area, and particularly in large industrial areas, the number of children taking school meals is dropping and that in Stoke the drop was 7,000 in the month of May? This is largely due to the fact that the school meal has gone up in price. Would the hon. Gentleman take every possible care to get local authorities and teachers to see that no child suffers and that free meals are available if the need arises?
§ Sir E. BoyleIt will not be possible to make a valid comparison with 1956 until we have the normal autumn return in the latter part of the year. That will show the full effect of the increase from 10d. to 1s., which took effect in April of this year.
§ Dr. SummerskillIs it not a fact that this miserable economy at the expense of the poorest children must inevitably be reflected in their physique? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the stunted child never recovers, however much food it is given in after years?
§ Sir E. BoyleWhen the full figures are available at a later stage we can discuss these matters, when I am sure the right hon. Lady will have eloquent remarks to make, including more remarks about physique.
§ Mr. M. StewartWill the Parliamentary Secretary look at the facts that have been brought out, both arising from this Question and from Question No. 5? Does not it become evident that there is a clear causal connection between rising prices and the falling-off in school meals and that the matter ought to be looked at again?
§ Sir E. BoyleThe question specifically relates to
February. March, April and May for 1956 and 1957.I did suggest that we should suspend judgment until the normal autumn return is available.
§ Mr. N. PannellIs it not a fact that the children of the poorest parents get these meals free?