§ 107 and 108. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Education (1) how many children are drinking free milk each day in schools; their ages; and whether any arrangements are made for preventing waste or disposing of surplus milk;
(2) how many meals were supplied to school children during 1943, 1944, I945, 1946 and 1947; and if the plans to extend school meals to all children are to be affected by the crisis.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving overall figures for children taking milk and meals at Grant Aided schools from 1943 to June, 1947. Statistics by age groups are not available. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Circular 119, paragraphs 13–15 of which deal with the disposal of surplus milk and the importance of avoiding any waste. Special measures have been taken to emphasise the importance of these instructions. The pace of the school meals programme must inevitably be affected by the general restrictions on building industry and the shortness of supplies of canteen equipment.
109WFollowing is the table
NUMBER OF PUPILS HAVING MEALS AND MILK ON A NORMAL DAY IN GRANT-AIDED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. — MEALS. MILK. Dinners ('000s). Breakfasts and teas ('000s) Total ('000s). Number of pupils having dinner as percentage of number present. Number at ½d. for ⅓ pint rate ('000s). Number having milk free ('000s). Total number having milk ('000s). Number of pupils having milk as percentage of number present. per cent. per cent. 1943 February … 1,048 13 1,061 23.5 3,089 282 3,371 76.8 1944 February … 1,495 20 1,515 32.8 3,114 314 3,428 76.3 1945 February … 1,650 17 1,667 36.3 2,934 331 3,265 73.0 1946 February … 1,898 21 1,919 41.6 2,932 337 3,269 71.5 June … 2,040 22 2,062 43.4 2,988 382 3,370 71.6 October … 2,252 26 2,278 47.0 — 4,438 4,438 92.5 1947 February* … 2,173 22 2,195 49.7 — 3,817 3,817 87.0 June … 2,322 25 2,347 48.5 — 4,267 4,267 89.0 * The number of children at school was abnormally low owing to bad weather.
§ 109. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Education if he will state the approximate cost of supplying milk to schools during 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947; and if he is satisfied with the present scheme.
§ Mr. TomlinsonAs the answer to the first part of the Question involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving the information for which my hon. Friend has asked. The answer to the second part is in the affirmative.
Following is the information
Cost of Milk in Schools Scheme to Public Funds Financial Year £ 1942–43 … … 4,102,494 1943–44 … … 4,751,779 1944–45 … … 4,697,796 1945–46 … … 4,639,199 1946–47 … … 5,556,875 Since 6th August, 1946, the charge of ½d. for one-third pint has ceased.
§ 111. Mr. Alpassasked the Minister of Education if he is aware that no provision has yet been made for the supply of meals to the children attending Hillesley Church of England School; if he will take steps to expedite their provision; and pending the completion of
110Warrangements at the school if he will instruct the Gloucester County Education Committee to supply meals from their depot at Coalpit Heath.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI am looking into this matter and will communicate with my hon. Friend.
§ 112. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Education if he will give the number of schoolchildren receiving free dinners, dinners on payment and no dinners, respectively; and the number of schools providing free dinners, dinners on payment and no dinners at the last available date.
§ Mr. TomlinsonIn June, 1947, there were, in round numbers, 330,000 children in grant-aided primary and secondary schools who received free dinners, 1,990,000 who had dinners on payment, and 2,460,000 who did not receive dinner at school. Dinners were being provided at nearly 25,000 out of 29,000 schools or departments, free or on payment according to the needs of the case.
§ 113. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Education whether school dinners will now be available free of charge.
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo. My hon. Friend will see from the table I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT in answer to Questions No. 107 and 108 that we still 111W have a long way to go in extending the facilities for school dinners before they can be made free. In the present circumstances I cannot estimate how long it will take to complete this programme.