§ Q4. Mr. Marksasked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of the Environment on matters relating to the relief of poverty.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. There is already close co-operation between all Departments concerned with family support and the relief of poverty.
§ Mr. MarksHow does the Prime Minister reconcile the Education (Milk) Act, which deprives children living in poverty of free milk, with the statements made by other Departments? Does not he realise that this Act has offended not only Labour councils but also Conservative councils, and will he instruct his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to repeal this Act as soon as possible?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The Bill was thoroughly discussed when going through the House. As the hon. Gentleman knows, but has failed to say, special arrangements are made for children who require milk on medical grounds. In any case, his Government withdrew free milk from children at secondary schools.
§ Mr. PavittIs the Prime Minister aware that, although the accent may be upon the nutritional value of milk, obesity and the necessity for a balanced diet for children are raising fresh problems? Will his experts have a look at the evidence of the Medical Research Council on this aspect?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I am perfectly prepared to ask my right hon. Friend to arrange for that to be done.
§ Sir G. NabarroWill not the Prime Minister add to his reply that, whereas a relatively modest sum has been saved by this school milk Measure, four times as much has been added to expenditure on primary schools, which is vastly more important in present circumstances?
§ The Prime MinisterThis is the change in balance which the Government have been seeking to achieve. Only the Government of the day can provide more and better primary schools and improvements to hospitals, especially those dealing with mental illness, and this Government are therefore pursuing much larger programmes in those respects.