HC Deb 08 November 1934 vol 293 cc1266-7
15. Mr. DREWE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he can state the increased amount of milk consumed in the schools since the price of milk was reduced; and whether there have been any difficulties in working the scheme?

16. Mr. HALL-CAINE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of children who are now being supplied with milk at the reduced price of one halfpenny per bottle of one-third pint; and how many local authorities have taken advantage of this supply of cheap milk?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)

My Noble Friend regrets that it is not possible to give statistical information regarding the operation of the scheme for the supply of milk at reduced rates in schools in England and Wales, until the Milk Marketing Board's returns for the month of October have been analysed, and this will necessarily take some little time. With regard to the second part of the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Honiton (Mr. Drewe), a number of questions, as was inevitable in the initial stages of a scheme of this magnitude, have arisen, but it is hoped that any difficulties presented will be satisfactorily adjusted at an early date.

Mr. DREWE

Can my hon. Friend say whether there has been any difficulty in getting milk approved by the medical officers in the rural areas particularly?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

I think not at present.

Sir F. ACLAND

Is it not on the whole true that, although the work is difficult and requires the inspection of a great many farms, the staffs of local authorities are proceeding to get farms approved, so that a supply of milk may be available to schools at a fairly reasonable rate.

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

I think that that is so.

Mr. GLOSSOP

Is my hon. Friend aware that in certain parts of the country considerable hardship is being caused to small producers who previously supplied schools, in view of the fact that the authorities are insisting on the supply not of fresh milk but of pasteurised milk, which can only be supplied by large dairies.

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

The Board of Education have not made it a requirement that pasteurised milk must be supplied to the exclusion of all other types. As explained in the Board's circular where the supply of sufficient pasteurised milk is available it should be supplied. Medical opinion is strongly in favour of supplying pasteurised milk where possible.