HC Deb 17 June 1947 vol 438 c212W
Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Minister of Education if he will give the number of schoolchildren receiving free dinners, dinners on payment, and no dinners, respectively; and the number of schools providing free dinners, dinners on payment, and no dinners.

Mr. Tomlinson

Last October there were, in round numbers, 340,000 children in grant-aided primary and secondary schools who received free dinners, 1,920,000 who had dinners on payment, and 2½ million who did not receive dinner at school. Dinners were being provided at over 24,000 out of 29,000 schools or departments, and it may be assumed that at practically all of these free dinners were available in case of need.