§ 40. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many health authorities or charitable organisations organise the sale of cheap milk to children between the ages of one and five years; how many districts are being served; and the number of children supplied?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)I have been asked to reply. At 31st December, 1934, 398 of the 421 local authorities responsible for maternity and child welfare arrangements in England and Wales supplied milk (fresh or dried) free or at less than cost price, in necessitous cases, to children under five years of age. In addition, 11 local authorities supplied milk at cost price. In many cases arrangements for the supply of milk to children of these ages is also made by charitable organisations, but my right hon. Friend is not aware of the actual number of such organisations. Statistics are not available which would enable my right hon. Friend to give the total number of children supplied with milk under these arrangements.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre the Ministry encouraging local authorities to investigate the possibilities of increasing milk consumption by this means; and in those areas where charitable organisations are operating, are the local health authorities likely to supersede the charitable organisations?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREOn the first point the answer is, "Certainly." We have done all we can to foster the scheme. On the second point, I would like notice.
§ Mr. HOLDSWORTHCan the hon. Gentleman say what it would cost the Exchequer to have a free distribution of milk?
§ 41. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many education authorities have organised the distribution of cheap milk on non-school days; how many schools are involved; and how many children attend for a supply of milk?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Oliver Stanley)Arrangements are made in some districts for the distribution of cheap milk on non-school days, but I have no information about the number of schools involved or the number of children who attend. In some 22 areas arrangements are made by the local education authority for the provision of free milk during school holidays, and in a few cases also during week-ends in term time.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand from the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the Board of Education are not interested in the question?
§ Mr. STANLEYNo, Sir, but as the hon. Member knows, the distribution of cheap milk is not a matter for organisation by local authorities but for individual schools, and it would therefore be impossible to obtain the information without circularising every school.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that the question is of such importance that it would be desirable to circularise the education authorities with a view to extending this service?
§ Mr. STANLEYI am sure we should all be glad to see the service extended, but I do not think that that result would be achieved merely by circularising the authorities.