§ 11. Dr. David Kerrasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the growing difficulty in admitting children to primary school 1933 immediately after their fifth birthday, he will seek to arrange for these children to receive a supply of free milk at home pending their admission to school.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Denis Howell)No, Sir. This would require legislation and a costly administrative machine out of all proportion to the numbers involved.
§ Dr. KerrIs my hon. Friend aware that that is a pretty disappointing Answer? As we do not at the moment know what the numbers involved maybe over the next few years, will he take another look at this? Is he aware that the numbers of school children involved might be very small now, but that they are all suffering from the withdrawal of an important nutriment which is particularly important among lower-paid families? Will my hon. Friend consult my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Health to see whether he could not correct the situation?
§ Mr. HowellWe will certainly reconsider this matter. I am informed that the maximum period for which any child could suffer under these difficulties would be eight to nine weeks, which would involve an outlay of 1s. 4d. a week in that period, or a maximum of 12s. for the whole period.
§ Mr. HornbyDoes the hon. Gentleman agree with the figure of £14 million quoted in The Times yesterday as the amount which could be saved here? Cannot he agree that at least some of this money could be put to better educational uses without depriving those children most in need?
§ Mr. HowellI do not think that the facts which the hon. Gentleman quoted from The Times are relevant to the numbers of children who ought to be in school but who cannot get into school.