29. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Education if he will send a circular to local education authorities drawing attention to the undesirability of issuing school meal tickets in different colours for different amounts paid.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)My right hon. Friend agrees that it is undesirable for any procedure to be adopted in the meals service which may lead to the identification at school of those children who are receiving meals either free or at a reduced charge. Details of the arrangements are, however, a matter for the local education authority, and he does not consider that it would be appropriate for him to issue any instructions about them.
Mrs. ButlerSince a number of education authorities at the moment are experimenting with different systems of collecting school meals payments in order to relieve the teaching staff of the responsibility, would not this be a very appropriate time for the Minister to 1493 remind them that they should not adopt a system which clearly sets apart children receiving free or cheap meals from the others, because, while a number of them do not mind, some who may be more sensitive may be caused very great distress?
§ Mr. ThompsonMy right hon. Friend shares the view expressed by the hon. Lady in the latter part of her question, and I think it is true that most local authorities, if not all, are now alerted to the danger which would arise from anything which resulted in differentiating between children who pay and those who do not. I think their attitude generally is quite enlightened on the point.