HC Deb 05 May 1938 vol 335 cc1017-8
41. Viscountess Astor

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that a controlled experiment on 8,000 elementary schoolchildren, conducted over a period of one year, proved that children who receive a ration of one-third of a pint of milk in addition to their normal diet show a greater increase in weight and height than children who do not receive this milk ration; and whether, in view of this, the Government will take steps to continue the subsidy whereby milk can be provided both for elementary schoolchildren and for children attending open air nursery schools as part of their long-term milk policy?

Mr. Lindsay

I am aware of the results of the controlled experiment to which the Noble Lady refers. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer to paragraph 20 of the White Paper on Milk Policy in which it was stated that the Government regarded the continuance of the scheme for the provision of cheap milk for school children as an essential feature of their proposals.

Viscountess Astor

Do not the Government consider this is a vital necessity, and cannot they bring pressure to bear upon those local authorities who are failing in their duty in this matter?

Mr. Lindsay

We are doing it almost every week by persuasion and by speech.

Captain Heilgers

Can the hon. Member say whether the milk is raw or pasteurised?