§ 31. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department and/or the Milk Marketing Board have considered a scheme for supplying cheap or free milk to schoolchildren on non-school days and to children of poor parents between the age of one year and five years; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. ELLIOTUnder the existing arrangements the scheme for the supply of milk in schools in England and Wales at reduced rates may operate seven days a week and throughout the holidays, provided the children are assembled for the purpose. Careful consideration is being given to the possibility of introducing an experimental scheme for the supply of milk at reduced rates to children below school age in the special areas, but I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.
Miss RATHBONEWill the Minister kindly state in how many areas milk is, in fact, provided on non school days?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI could not do so without notice.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the Minister encourage education authorities to fulfil this condition?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI should certainly do so because it would increase the consumption of milk.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWhat does the Minister mean by "special areas"? Does that term include areas where there is a high rate of unemployment?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI think that it is a fairly well understood term by this time.
Viscountess ASTORIf the Minister does as well during the next four years as he has done in the last four, does he not think that not only all the children but a great many of the adults will be drinking milk?