HC Deb 28 June 1971 vol 820 cc34-6W
Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT all the categories of persons who will in future be entitled to free or cheap milk.

Mr. Alison

1. Under the provisions of the Welfare Food Order, 1971, free milk, at the rate of one pint per day, is available for:

  1. (i) An expectant mother and all children under school age in families in receipt of Supplementary Benefit or—with effect from 3rd August, 1971–Family Income Supplement or in other families in special need because of low income. A nursing mother or the child she is suckling, is considered as a beneficiary for the purpose of free milk.
  2. (ii) Expectant mothers who already have two children under school age, regardless of family income.
  3. (iii) All children under school age except the first two in families which have three or more children under school age, regardless of income.
  4. (iv) Handicapped children aged 5 to 16 years who are not attending an educational establishment.
  5. (v) Additionally all children under school age who attend a registered day nursery or playgroup are entitled to one-third of a pint on each day they attend.
Cheap liquid milk is no longer available for any category of person under the welfare milk scheme but National Dried Milk is available to all classes of beneficiary specified in Schedule 2 of the Welfare Food Order at the low price of 20p per 20 oz. pack—equivalent to seven pints of liquid milk.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that under the school milk scheme, and subject to the enactment of the Education (Milk) Bill the following pupils in maintained schools will be entitled to one-third of a pint of free milk on each school day:

  1. (i) All pupils in special schools.
  2. (ii) Children in nursery and infant schools up to the end of the summer 36 term after the date on which they attain the age of 7.
  3. (iii) Children over 7 attending primary schools and children over 7 and under 12 attending all-age schools and middle schools where this is recommended by a school medical officer on grounds of health.

4. Delicate children in special schools qualify under existing regulations for an additional one-third of a pint of milk a day; there is no proposal to change this arrangement.