§ 7. Mr. F. Willeyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education the reduction in the number of children taking school meals in Sunderland since the recent increase in the cost of the meals.
§ Sir E. BoyleI regret that this information will not be available until local education authorities submit their annual return in October.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the hon. Gentleman try to get this information earlier? Is he aware that my information is that there has been a fall of about 10 per cent., which is really disastrous? Is it not time that the Government revised their policy and looked at the question again?
§ Sir E. BoyleI do not think that it would be right to add to the burden on local authorities by asking them to make a return more often than once a year.
§ Mr. M. StewartIs not this becoming a rather pressing question? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that we had Questions last week which bore out that there is a relation between the cost of school meals and the falling off in the number of school meals taken?
§ Sir E. BoyleI have, of course, noticed that there has been a number of Questions on the subject. The actual proportion of those taking school dinners in Sunderland has been declining steadily for some years, but we shall have the normal autumn report later this year and there will be ample opportunities for discussing the matter in the House when that return is available.