HC Deb 08 August 1940 vol 364 cc459-60W
Mr. David Adams

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of schoolchildren now receiving no education owing to the closure of schools in evacuation areas?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 2nd May and on 1st August, copies of which I am sending him.

Mr. David Adams

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the provision of school meals is being fully maintained in those areas where schools have been closed owing to a partial evacuation of the children?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The circumstances of the areas from which children have been evacuated vary very widely. In some areas the provision of school meals is continuing for the unevacuated children, but in others it has been discontinued owing, I understand, either to the small number of children now remaining, or to the difficulty of providing adequate air raid protection at the feeding centres. I am making inquiry as to the position in certain of these areas, but in a number of those where all the schools are at present closed no provision of meals was being made under normal conditions.