§ 42. Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallettasked the Minister of Education whether it is intended to review the scale on which school milk is at present supplied in the light of the recent report by his Chief Medical Officer on the health of school children.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Sir Edward Boyle)My right hon. Friend does not feel justified at present in reviewing current policy for the provision of school milk. He is, however, proposing to refer the question of the effect of the nutrition of children on their physical development to the Committee on Medical and Nutritional Aspects of Food Policy.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that assurance, may I ask whether he would agree that there is a growing weight of scientific evidence which indicates that if we unduly hasten the growth of children by 538 special diets we may very well shorten their lives afterwards? Is not this a serious matter which calls for careful inquiry?
§ Sir E. BoyleI am told that experiments with animals provide the only evidence so far for the theory that fast growth may mean shorter life. I do not think that we should too rapidly assume that the same is necessarily true of human beings.
§ Dr. KingWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is better for Britain to have a few more Billy Bunters and not have the malnutrition with the kind of hunger that existed among children before there were school meals?
§ Sir E. BoyleIt is too early to draw any conclusion on this subject. I am grateful to the House for not being too personal upon it.