HL Deb 27 July 1949 vol 164 cc566-7

3.6 p.m.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will arrange for milkmen, wherever possible, to supply on payment extra milk for school children in substitution for the milk they would otherwise have obtained at school through the extra milk scheme.]

THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

My Lords, I regret that the difficulties of rearranging the distribution of supplies preclude any arrangement such as the noble Lord has suggested. The noble Lord will appreciate that during term time about 8,000 retailers supply milk to over 30,000 schools. To make the administrative arrangements necessary to switch the supply to some 100,000 retailers who supply the homes of the 5,000,000 children involved, and to make the switch back at the end of the holidays, presents a problem to which there seems to be no practicable solution.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, have His Majesty's Government read the operative words of my Question, which are "wherever possible?"

THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

We have read the whole Question with great attention.

LORD LLEWELLIN

My Lords, is it not the fact that in the past arrangements were always made whereby a school child could draw the milk, even during holiday periods? That was the procedure adopted throughout the time of the war. Is it not possible to continue that now?

THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

My Lords, as we understand the noble Lord's Question, he is asking for the milk to be delivered at the homes of these children. It is always possible for the school to arrange for the children to collect the milk from the school, or, alternatively, for arrangements to be made in camps or like places for milk to be supplied to the children. What is impracticable administratively is to arrange that milk should be delivered by the milkmen to the various homes to which the children have gone for the holidays.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I would again ask the Government to read the operative words "wherever possible." If they will allow the milkmen to sell the milk wherever they happen to have it, that will meet my point.

THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON

I regret to have to insist, but that would also be difficult. It would mean a great deal of work for the people employed in organising the scheme. However, it is hoped that if our milk production continues to improve as at present, perhaps next year it will no longer be necessary to impose rationing of milk, in which case, naturally, the school children will be able to buy all the milk they desire.