asked the President. of the Board of Education whether it is his intention to continue the system known as rationing, by which the sum available to be divided among all the local education authorities who were prepared to undertake to provide meals for school children was strictly limited, with the consequence that thousands of children had to go to school insufficiently fed?

I do not propose to retain a specific limit on the expenditure of local education authorities on the provision of meals for school children for the calculation of grant. At the same time I rely upon local education authorities to exercise due economy and care in the administration of this service.

Sir F. HALL:

Does the reply mean that all children, irrespective of their position, are to be fed?

No, Sir.