§ Mr. BARKERasked the President of the Board of Education if he has received resolutions from the Education Committee of the Abertillery Urban District Council and the Monmouthshire Education Committee complaining that the need of footgear for pupils is detrimental to the progress of education; and will he take steps to secure for local education authorities powers to provide boots from the education funds, such expenditure to be subject to the same conditions as are contained in the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts?
§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that many children are prevented from attending school through the lack of boots or shoes; and will he take steps to secure for local education authorities power to provide the same from education funds, under the same conditions as are contained in the Education (Provision of Meals) Acts?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have received resolutions from the two Welsh authorities mentioned; but I have no evidence yet of any widespread difficulty in children attending school from lack of boots and shoes or any general demand for the power of provision by the local education authorities. It would require legislation to enable the local education authorities to make such provision, and I am not at present prepared to undertake it.