§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the President of the Board of Education what are the latest figures in the possession of his Department showing the number of educational authorities which have the Education (Provision of Meals) Act in force; the total number of children who are being supplied with meals; and the total cost thereof?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe number of local education authorities in England and Wales who have, since the Act came into operation, been authorised by the Board of Education to spend money out of the rates on the provision of food under Section 3 of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, is 100. I am not yet in a position to reply to the second and third paragraphs of the question or to furnish information as to the extent to which local education authorities have had recourse to the powers conferred on them by the Act otherwise than under Section 3. The Board are still awaiting replies from between 20 and 30 local education 591W authorities to their Schedule of Inquiries on this subject issued in July, but a Report on the subject is now in preparation, and I hope that the Board may be in a position to issue it early next year.