§ Viscount SANDONasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Monmouthshire County Council that from 8 to 10 per cent. of their school children are suffering from under-nourishment consequent on local unemployment; and what steps he is taking in the matter?
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§ Lord E. PERCYA survey of all the schools in the area has recently been carried out by the medical officers of the local authority, and indicates that only in the Nantyglo and Blaina group of schools does the percentage of children suffering from malnutrition reach the figure mentioned in the question. In this district the local authority are providing meals for the children, and they are at present in communication with the Board as regards the general position in the area. I may add that the results of the recent survey bear out the general estimate of the situation which I gave the House on 26th March last on the basis of the investigations carried out by the Board's medical officers at the beginning of the year, and they appear to show that there has been no deterioration in health during the last few months.