§ Mr. D. L. DAVIESasked the President, of the Board of Education whether he can state the number of children attending the elementary schools in England and Wales in receipt of meals under the Feeding of Schoolchildren Act, giving the number receiving full meals and the number of meals per day; the number receiving milk and biscuits; and the total cost of such for the year 1935?
Mr. STANLEYI assume that my hon. Friend refers only to the provision of free meals and milk under Section 84 of the Education Act, 1921. In December, 1935, 322,878 children attending public elementary schools in England and Wales received free meals or milk. Of these 47,262 received ordinary meals only, 233,257 milk only, and 42,359 ordinary meals and milk. Some authorities give two or three meals a day, but in the majority of cases dinners only are provided. I have no information as to the number of children who are supplied with biscuits in addition to milk. The estimated net cost of the provision of meals and milk during the current financial year is £640,000.
56Wbenefit, for an increase in the rate of benefit in respect of dependants