§ Mr. SCURRasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the numbers of children attending schools in 1924 suffering from malnutrition increased as compared with 1923; and whether, in view of this fact, he will urge the necessity upon local education authorities for a more vigorous administration of the Provision of Meals Act?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe Report of the Board's Chief Medical Officer for 1924 showed that in London and 24 large representative areas there was an increase in the number of cases of malnutrition which required treatment, and it was suggested that unemployment and over-762W crowding were two factors which contributed to this result. No figures were given for the country as a whole, but the Report stated that in a number of areas the nutritional condition of the children had advanced. As regards the second part of the question, the provision of meals under the Education Act is a matter for the decision of the local authority.