§ Mr. Greyasked the Minister of Education if she will state the number of schools in Durham County and the country generally where solid meals are not being provided; what is causing delay; and when 100 per cent, feeding is likely to be achieved.
§ Miss WilkinsonOut of 730 schools or school departments in the Durham County, 190 are not yet served by school canteens. The very large scheme prepared by the county was initially delayed by a temporary ban on building before the Normandy landing and later by the diversion of labour to the repair of V-Bomb damage in London. Rapid progress has been made in the past year during which the number of children fed has risen from 33,000 to 66,000 and the number of schools or school departments served from 319 to 540. Plans for the remaining cases are nearly complete. The numbers of schools or departments in England and Wales without canteen facilities in June last was about 5,500 out of 28,357. The pace of progress depends on the availability of building labour and materials and other factors. I am satisfied that local education authorities generally are pursuing this matter with vigour. I made it clear in my statement on 28th March that I am not in a position to forecast the date by which all or practi2ally all the schools will have canteen facilities