§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education what number of schools in England and Wales have provided dining-halls in connection with elementary schools; what number are providing a hot dinner for children attending school; are any steps being taken in view of the medical reports to the Board to provide dinners in distressed areas; and will any grant be made to education authorities from the funds of the Commissioner for Special Areas for such purpose?
Mr. LindsayThe Board have no record of the number of public elementary schools in England and Wales which have dining-halls nor have they any recent particulars of the number of schools which are providing a hot dinner for children in attendance. Free meals for necessitous undernourished children are usually given at feeding centres and not at schools. Where the provision of such meals appears to be insufficient for the needs of the area, representations are being made by the Board to the local education authorities. The expenditure of the authorities is recognised for 50 per cent. grant from the Board but no additional grant is available from the funds of the Commissioner for the Special Areas. I am sending the hon. Member tables showing the provision of free meals and milk in all the Special Areas and in England and Wales as a whole during the year which ended on the 31st March, 1938.