§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether any statistics are available of the number of children who are affected by mental retardation, due to malnutrition, in elementary or secondary schools; and, if no such information is recorded, will he take steps to have inquiries made?
Mr. LindsayThe recognition that malnutrition is one of the causes of mental retardation is the basis of the statutory provision of meals for children who "are unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of the education provided for them." No statistics are available of the number of children who are affected by mental retardation, due to malnutrition, in elementary or secondary schools. There are many other causes of mental retardation, some associated with and some distinct from malnutrition, and I am advised that inquiries such as the hon. Member desires would be unlikely to result in reliable statistics on this exceedingly difficult matter.