§ 20. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions have been issued for changing the diet of meals in schools; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonNo doubt the lion. Lady has in mind the memorandum sent to education authorities on 18th October recommending ways in which the nutritional value of meals can be maintained at any time when some curtailment in the use of meat and potatoes may be needed to enable the authorities to keep within their approved food costs. I have sent the hon. Lady a copy of the memorandum.
§ Mrs. MannI have already seen this memorandum. Is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that there is a definite directive to cut down the amount of protein, in butchers' meat particularly? Although it is not stated in the memorandum, we know that this is because it has become more expensive and scarce. The same directive is being used in regard to potatoes. In view of the fact that food surveys show that children of large families are also suffering from lack of protein, will the Minister take back this memorandum?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe memorandum, of which I sent the hon. Lady a copy this morning, says that it is recommended that authorities should limit their expenditure on meat per meal to one-third of their total approved food cost. That has always been the case.