HC Deb 12 April 1962 vol 657 cc1494-5
35. Mr. P. Browne

asked the Minister of Education if he is satisfied that schools are getting meat of the quality and type for which they are paying; and what specialised staff he has with responsibility for inspecting meat bought by education authorities.

Mr. K. Thompson

Local education authorities are responsible for running the school meals service and it is for them to ensure that the meat supplied to schools is up to standard. My right hon. Friend has no specialised staff to inspect meat purchased for the schools.

Mr. Browne

Is my hon. Friend aware that there have been complaints that meat has been bought of a quality below that justified by the price paid compared with the price for an equivalent grade of meat in the shops? Will he not agree that it is a pity that certain local education authorities are determined that schools should buy a fairly large percentage of foreign meat with home-produced meat?

Mr. Thompson

Yes, Sir, but these are matters for the local authorities themselves to decide, and I think that that is where the responsibility should lie. If my hon. Friend has any specific cases in mind, I will be glad to look into them.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

Why does not my hon. Friend buy Scottish meat to avoid all this trouble?

Mr. Thompson

I think that my hon. Friend's persuasive powers should be directed to the local authorities.

Mr. Prior

Could not my hon. Friend instruct the local education authorities to buy British meat during the summer, at any rate, when British meat is plentiful, is in good supply and is very cheap, thereby helping the Exchequer to save subsidies?

Mr. Thompson

Local authorities have to balance all these considerations with the amount of money that they are allowed to spend per meal and the object of getting a properly balanced diet.