§ Mr. Lunnasked the President of the Board of Education in how many elementary schools in the West Riding of York a proper sit-down meal is provided for the children; what are the total number of meals in one day: is the number increasing; and at what rate?
§ Mr. EdeThe returns which my right hon. Friend has asked local education authorities to supply do not show the number of individual schools for which meals are provided. On a single day in October midday dinners were provided for 21,729 children in the area of the West Riding authority. This figure represents an increase of 59.9 per cent. over the number provided on a day in February last, and my right hon. Friend has every reason to anticipate a continued increase on a substantial scale.