§ 50. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Education the reasons for the decline in the take-up of school meals from 2,757,608 in June, 1952, as compared with 2,509,786 in June, 1953; and how many of the total decline of 247,822 school meals was accounted for by non-take-up in the county borough of West Ham.
§ Miss HorsbrughIt is probably due to a number of causes, but I have no means of knowing how far any particular cause has been responsible. The decline in West Ham was 1,153, from 38.6 per cent. of the children in attendance in June, 1952, to 32.3 per cent. in June, 1953.
§ 58. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Education the number of children taking school meals in Wales at the latest convenient date and the comparable number for 1952.
§ Miss HorsbrughThe number of children in maintained and assisted schools in Wales having dinner on a day in June, 1952, was 183,965 (49.4 per cent. of the children in attendance); the figure for June, 1953, is 161,127 (42.3 per cent).
§ 51. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the fall in the number of children taking school meals from 2,757,600 in June, 1952, to 2,509,786 in June, 1953, she will now cancel the additional charge imposed last March on the price of these meals.
§ Miss HorsbrughNo.