§ 82. Mr. Willisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the causes to which he attributes the increase in malnutrition amongst children in Edinburgh, as revealed by the figures for the year ending 31st July, 1946, as compared with the year ended 31st July, 1939; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this.
§ Mr. WestwoodThe medical authorities of the Edinburgh Corporation staff attribute the rise in the figures to a higher standard of assessment on the part of the examining medical officers. Nutrition standards are of course not capable of exact statistical measurement, and the view of the medical authorities is that the actual physical condition of the schoolchildren is, if anything, better than in 1939. So far as the standard of nutrition among schoolchildren generally is concerned any assistance which can be given by my Departments by the improvement of the school meal service or otherwise, will be readily forthcoming.