56. Sir I. Orr-Ewingasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware that 11 boys and girls from Lydney Grammar School, whose headmaster was one of the magistrates, attended the hearing of a murder charge at Lydney magistrates' court on 4th October; and whether he will issue instructions to prevent any children or persons on a school register from attending magistrates' courts as spectators during school hours.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am informed that, as part of a social studies course, ten sixth form pupils from Lydney Grammar School visited the local magistrates' court on 4th October. Such visits are quite common as part of a course of this kind, and local education authorities and schools, who are responsible for arranging them, are aware of the importance of ensuring that the pupils do not hear unsuitable cases. In my view, an error of judgment
ENGLAND AND WALES — June, 1954* June, 1953 June, 1952 May, 1951 The number of children in maintained and assisted schools having: (i) free dinners 261,795 260,424 278,118 291,266 (ii) dinners on payment 2,348,604 2,249,362 2,479,490 2,336,938 (iii) no dinners at school 3,386,753 3,319,116 2,857,256 2,705,167 The number of maintained and assisted schools or departments providing dinners 28,889 28,520 28,158 27,669 The number of maintained and assisted schools or departments not providing dinners 714 820 975 1,243 * The last return available.