HC Deb 16 June 1921 vol 143 cc605-6W
Mr. R. YOUNG

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any instructions have been issued to local education authorities laying down the ages of 2 to 16 as being the ages of children entitled to be fed under the Provision of Meals Acts, 1906 and 1914; and whether it has at any time been decided that children of these ages are entitled to be fed whether their names are or are not on the school registers?

Mr. LEWIS

No such instructions to local education authorities have been issued by the Board. The Education (Provision of Meals) Acts, 1906 and 1914, make no reference to the ages of children who may be fed under those Acts, but enable a local education authority to provide meals for any children in attendance at a public elementary school in the authority s area. The Board know of no decision that children whose names are not on the school registers are entitled to be fed under these Acts, and the Board's grant would not be available in aid of the cost of meals for such children.