§ 11. Mr. Turtonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities are restricting the issue of free school milk to maintained primary schools; and what steps he is taking to advise these local authorities to end this discrimination.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThis information is not available. Local education authorities have discretion in this matter under Section 78(2) of the Education Act, 1944, and it is not for me to advise them how to exercise it.
§ Mr. TurtonSurely the nutritional needs of these children have nothing to do with where or how they are educated? The hon. Gentleman ought to point that out to these local education authorities.
§ Mr. HowellMy Department has issued a number of pronouncements and we have had debates in this House, about the nutritional value of school milk. We cannot exercise control in a matter which Parliament has specifically said is for local authority discretion.
§ Mr. Carter-JonesIs my hon. Friend aware that some excessive cuts are being made in certain areas, resulting in the cutting out of certain independent schools? One need not have a view about independent schools but all children should be treated equally.
§ Mr. HowellI can understand my hon. Friend's argument, but I do not think that further public subsidies to independent schools ought to head our priorities in education.