§ Major Studholmeasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consult with the Ministry of Food with a view to expanding where practicable the canteen service for schoolchildren in country villages where there is no British Restaurant, in order to allow such of the parents as may wish to do so to take a mid-day meal with the children on payment of the appropriate charge?
§ Mr. EdeSchemes on the lines suggested would not be refused consideration, but experience shows that they involve many practical difficulties. School canteens most, wherever possible, be accommodated in the school both for economy reasons and because this is far the most popular arrangement with the children. The admission of parents to a canteen situated at the school and supervised by the teachers would often be liable to give rise to friction. In practice also it is impossible in a small kitchen to cook separately for the children so as to reserve to them their special allowances of meat, milk, sugar, jam, etc., which are substantially larger than the allowances for adults.