HC Deb 04 November 1968 vol 772 cc466-7
17. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in his discussions on the Seebohm Report, he will consider seeking powers to use the school meals service, staff and premises for providing hot meals for the elderly outside the school dinner hour.

Mr. Snow

Local authorities already have powers enabling them to use the school meals service for this purpose and a number of them do so. We are considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science the possibility of further development.

Mr. Allaun

I am most grateful for that Answer. In view of the fact that the meals on wheels service meets the needs of such a small minority, would not this be an imaginative way to provide one hot meal a day for old people who do not now get it, without duplicating the existing schools service?

Mr. Snow

Such a service depends on the surplus capacity at schools which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science may feel that he can place at the disposal of such services. Additionally, local authorities can contract with hospitals where equivalent surplus capacity exists.