HC Deb 18 December 1941 vol 376 cc2071-2
55. Mr. David Adams

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, as he has decided to distribute the fruit juices and cod liver oil for young children through child welfare centres, he will now make the receipt of national milk for nursing and expectant mothers and children up to five years of age contin- gent upon the children concerned attending the child welfare centres and thus secure the return to these centres of many thousands of children lost to them due to the general distribution of national milk?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)

No, Sir. I appreciate the purpose which my hon. Friend has in mind, but I could not accept a proposal which would inevitably have the effect of reducing the number of children receiving benefit under the National Milk Scheme.

Mr. Adams

Is the Minister aware that, since milk is now being generally distributed, and not distributed through the maternity and child welfare centres, some 30 to 50 per cent. of the children do not now attend these centres, and that they are losing substantially as a result?

Major Lloyd George

I cannot accept the statement that they are losing substantially, because the original purpose of these centres was to advise the mothers, and not to distribute milk. Since the National Milk Scheme has come into operation, milk is received by the mothers without going to the centres, but it is open to them to go there for advice, which is the primary purpose of the centres.

Mr. Adams

As a matter of fact, have not mothers stopped going there, because they obtain the milk elsewhere?

Major Lloyd George

The primary purpose of the centres is not to distribute milk, but to give advice. If the mothers are getting milk elsewhere, they can still go to the centres for advice.

Mr. Adams

But they are not doing so.