HC Deb 21 April 1955 vol 540 cc339-40
16 and 17. Mr. Burden

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will instruct those schools giving children milk tablets to discontinue this practice and provide fresh milk;

(2) why children are being provided in some schools with milk tablets instead of fresh milk; and in how many schools this is the practice.

Mr. Vosper

Tablets are being used in about 800 schools in England and Wales. My right hon. Friend approves their use only where the local education authority is unable to make satisfactory arrangements for a supply of fresh milk. He hopes that fresh milk will shortly be available again in practically all cases.

Mr. Burden

While I am aware that there is a dispute which is causing this to happen in some cases, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he will intervene so that, if possible, fresh milk can be given to these children, by the direct intervention of the Minister if necessary. In instances in which that is not so, is it due to the fact that the schools are situated in isolated communities? If it is possible for residents in these isolated communities to get fresh milk, why is it not possible for school children to get fresh milk?

Mr. Vosper

I can assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend desires that liquid milk at a reasonable price shall be supplied to all schools. I have no doubt that this Question will come to the notice of the people in the areas concerned. With regard to the second part of the supplementary question, the number of schools to which milk cannot be supplied on account of their inaccessibility has shown a considerable reduction over the last three years, and I hope that that will continue.

Mr. Hastings

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that milk tablets can never take the place of fresh or pasteurised milk, and that in the preparation of tablets important substances are removed which are not replaced unless special conditions apply? Will the hon. Gentleman take special care to see that children are not given dried milk or milk tablets except in cases of epidemics, or where it is really necessary?

Mr. Vosper

Yes. I thought that it was implicit in the terms of my original reply that milk tablets are really a substitute for reconstituted dried milk, to which I think they provide a more palatable alternative, but they are no substitute for liquid milk.

Mr. Baldwin

Will the Minister approach the Milk Marketing Board to see that not only schools in remote districts, but also dwellers in remote districts, get milk?

Mr. Vosper

I will consider that.

Mr. Dodds

In view of the surplus of milk, it comes as a shock to hear that all these schools are getting milk tablets. Will the hon. Gentleman explain why they are not getting fresh milk? If schools are inaccessible by road, will the hon. Gentleman not think about using helicopters?

Mr. Vosper

The large number of cases has arisen not through inaccessibility but because of a dispute which, I hope, is of a temporary nature.