§ 29. Mr. E. Dunnasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many elementary schools are there in this country, including Scotland, where the supplies of liquid milk are not provided for school children; which counties are not supplying the milk; and what are the reasons liquid milk is not supplied to the children?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)On 1st October, 1936, the latest date for which figures are available, out of a total of 29,384 public elementary school departments in England and Wales, 5,162 departments were not providing liquid milk under the Milk in Schools Scheme. Of these departments, 2,143 were providing either liquid milk or some form of dried milk outside the scheme, and 3,019 were not providing any milk. There are no English or Welsh counties in which no liquid milk is provided in schools. In schools where liquid milk is not provided the main reasons are the unwillingness of producers and distributors to supply it for the price allowed under the scheme, or the fact that no milk is available which the county medical officer is prepared to approve for the purpose. As regards the figures for Scotland, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
§ Mr. DunnIs it not a fact that last year I asked a similar question and we were promised that something would be done to control the Milk Marketing Board in these areas? Is it not a fact that the schools which are denied the right to liquid milk are mainly in milk-producing areas? Will not the Minister do something to rectify this?
§ Mr. LindsayIt is true that the schools are mostly small rural schools.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsHas the Minister been in communication with the Milk Marketing Board. and since they have approximately 400,000.000 gallons of milk which is diverted for manufacturing purposes, could not a large portion of this be used as liquid milk for schools?
§ Mr. Garro JonesHow is it that manufacturers can get milk at 4d. per gallon while the Minister is not able to arrange for children to get it at the same price?
§ Sir Joseph LambIs it not a fact that it is not the Milk Marketing that is to blame but local medical officers who will not pass the milk, although it is very good and the same milk as they get at home?
§ Mr. PriceIs it not the case that the Milk Marketing Board is tied by certain contracts? When these lapse, will the Board make other arrangements in order to free more milk for schools?