§ Mr. E. J. Williamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will state the number of children in receipt of free meals and free milk in elementary and secondary schools in the county and county borough areas of Wales and the proportion of the full complement on the registers?
Mr. LindsayIn May, 1939, 5,582 children in public elementary schools in Wales and Monmouthshire, including county and county borough areas and boroughs and urban districts which are local education authorities for elementary education, received free solid meals, 5,248 free meals and milk and 60,416 free milk only. 3.1 per cent, of the children on the registers received free meals and 19 per cent, free milk. In the secondary schools free meals and milk are usually given by means of maintenance allowances, but no information is available as to the number of children who receive them in this way.