Miss Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how long he estimates it will take to extend the provision of school dinners for all children over the whole of the Scottish schools, elementary and secondary respectively, coming under his Department.
§ Mr. WestwoodWhen the accelerated programme aiming at the provision of midday meals to 75 per cent. of the school children in Scotland was launched in May, 1943, it was hoped that the objective would be reached in about three years. As the result of urgent claims on building labour, transport and certain articles of equipment brought about by war conditions, my right hon. Friend regrets that it is meantime not possible to say when the objective aimed at will be realised.