§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement regarding the supply of free meals and milk to school children by the local county councils of Ross and Cromarty and Inverness-shire, on the mainland and in the islands?
§ Mr. ColvilleEducation Authorities in Scotland have power under the conditions laid down in Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, to supply free meals to necessitous children attending schools in their areas, and under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1930, they have power to supply milk to school children. The number of children provided by the Education Authority with free meals in the year ended 31st July, 1938, was 606 in Ross and Cromarty and 1,581 in Inverness-shire, and the number supplied with free milk was 48 and 1,148 respectively. The information in my possession does not enable me to alllocate these figures between the mainland and the islands, but I am making inquiry of the Education Authorities concerned and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.