HC Deb 08 February 1968 vol 758 cc626-8
7. Mr. Clegg

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he sent a personal message to parents about free school meals.

48. Mr. Ronald Bell

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has sent a personal message to all parents of children attending maintained schools about charges for school meals.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Because I wanted to reduce to the minimum the risk that parents qualified to get free school meals for their children should fail to apply for them through ignorance.

Mr. Clegg

How much did this cost? Does the Secretary of State intend to send a circular round to parents informing them of the cuts in the education service?

Mr. Walker

I do not intend to send such a circular, because I think that parents are probably very well informed by various means about the cuts. In answer to the first part of the supplementary question, the cost was £10,000, and the postage, depending on how many are sent back by parents through the post, might amount to as much as £10,000. As against that, a sample carried out amongst authorities has shown that the number of free meals awarded has increased by about 5 per cent. in some areas and by as much as 25 per cent. in other areas. I think that this has been money well spent.

Mr. Bell

Is it not rather unusual for the Secretary of State to address parents direct in this way rather than local education authorities doing it? Has the Secretary of State considered what the effect on staffs in individual educational offices would be if many people were to accept one of his suggestions, that they should ask a member of the staff at that office to call on them? Finally, will the Secretary of State consider whether the means test here does not need reconsidering? It seems to be very lavish indeed.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Supplementary questions must be brief.

Mr. Walker

I do not think that there is any danger of authorities being flooded as a result of this advice. It may have been unusual, but it seemed to me to be sensible. I am not creating a new right. I am merely drawing people's attention to existing rights. Hon. Members opposite, who want to increase still further the cost of school meals, as I understand it, ought all the more to support the idea that as many as possible of those entitled to free meals should get them.

Mr. Strauss

Will my right hon. Friend send a very strong personal message to those who are appealing to children in primary schools through full-page advertisements in newspapers to help Britain by not drinking their school milk?

Mr. Walker

I do not think that I am called upon to send a message to these people. I do not even know who they are or what their address is. I certainly deplore the suggestion they make.

Mr. Speaker

Mrs. Short.

Mrs. Renée Short

I was going to ask the same question.

Mr. Bell

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the last Answer, I give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment.