§ Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the standard of health of children from deprived areas has altered appreciably since the abolition of free school milk for children aged seven to 11 years; and if she estimates that any such alteration is linked with this abolition.
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§ Mr. OakesThere is at present no medical evidence which would enable a categorical answer to be given, but my right hon. Friend believes that the reintroduction of free school milk for this age group will be of great benefit to many children who for a variety of reasons do not take a satisfying breakfast at home.
§ Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is available to her concerning how many countries within the European Community have a comprehensive system of free school milk for children aged seven to 11 years.
§ Mr. OakesComprehensive and up-to-date information is not readily available, but before the introduction of the EEC subsidy, Ireland and Denmark supplied free milk to certain children in this age range.
§ Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what will be the cost in 1978–79 of the restoration of free school milk for 7 to 11-year-old children by local education authorities;
(2) what will be the cost to the Exchequer of the restoration of free school milk to children aged 7 to 11 years in 1978–79, both gross and net of all payments made by the EEC towards this cost;
(3) what will be the cost to the European Community of milk subsidies to cover the restoration of free school milk to children in Great Britain aged between 7 and 11 years.
§ Mr. OakesAssuming that all local education authorities in England and Wales will decide to provide free milk to this additional group of pupils, the gross cost in financial year 1978–79—which covers two terms of the 1978–79 school year—is estimated to be about £13 million—November 1977 prices. Of this, £3½ million would be covered by the EEC subsidy at the present rate, or £5 million if proposals to raise the rate from about 3p per pint to about 4½p per pint from 1st May 1978 are adopted. Local education authorities will be reimbursed for the additional cost of providing free milk in 1978–79 to the 7 to 11-year olds, so that the net cost to the Echequer in that year will not exceed £9½ million.
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§ Mr. Maurice Macmillanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much extra milk she estimates will be consumed as a result of the restoration of free school milk to children aged 7 to 11 years; and what percentage of total national milk consumption this represents.
§ Mr. OakesAbout 15 million gallons for England and Wales in a full year, representing about 1 per cent. of the current level of total liquid milk consumption.