Dr. Guestasked the President of the Board of Education what number of education authorities in reception, neutral and evacuation areas, respectively, provide communal meals for school children; and what is the total number of children so fed?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI assume that the hon. Member refers to meals provided communally on payment by parents or householders, and not to the provision 1055W at feeding centres of meals for under-nourished children. As regards provision for the normal school population, the latest information available is for the year 1938–39, when arrangements for such communal meals were made in the areas of 112 local education authorities, including 63 reception areas, 22 neutral areas and 27 evacuation areas. According to information furnished to the Board, arrangements for the communal feeding of evacuated school children have been made in 53 reception areas, but it is probable that this figure is not complete, and that there are other areas where evacuated children are admitted to existing school canteens. It is not at present possible to give the total number of children receiving communal meals on payment.