§ Mr. FORRESTasked the President of the Board of Education how many educational authorities are now supplying meals to the children in the mining areas; and what is the aggregate number of children thus aided?
§ Mr. FISHERThe returns which I have received from local education authorities as to the action taken by them under the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts do not enable me to distinguish between those portions of the authorities' areas which are mining districts and the remaining portions. However, during the week ended 9th April, 1921, the latest week for which complete returns have been received, meals were being provided by 35 local education authorities in whose areas mining is one of the predominant industries; the number of children fed was, approximately, 12,000. From the returns for the week ended 16th April, which are not yet complete, it is clear that there was a substantial increase in the number 'of children being fed.