§ 35. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Education how many schools are now being supplied with milk tablets as a substitute for liquid milk; and what steps 1964 he is taking to procure a sufficient supply of fresh milk to meet the requirements of our school population.
§ Mr. VosperOne hundred and twenty-nine in all. Apart from eighteen small isolated schools which no one is prepared to supply, 111 are in Blackpool and Newport where the local education authorities have been unable to obtain fresh milk at a reasonable price. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter which my right hon. Friend sent to all local education authorities last December.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that liquid milk is far more nourishing than tablets, and that children prefer the natural milk which is being used for other purposes? Will he see that the fresh milk goes to our school children instead of to the purposes for which it is now used?
§ Mr. VosperIt is the desire of my right hon. Friend that liquid milk should be supplied, but there are cases where, for various reasons, this is not always possible.