§ Baroness MASHAM of ILTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider adding flavouring, such as chocolate and raspberry to the free school milk supplied to children under the age of 11, so that they drink it rather than waste it.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION and SCIENCE (Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge)The annual return made to my Department concerning free milk supplied to pupils on a day in October 1977 shows that about 94 per cent. of those pupils who were eligible and in attendance did in fact take it. This proportion compares well with the take-up prior to 1971 when free milk was provided for pupils over the age of seven. My Department has no evidence that supplying flavoured milk which is more expensive would result in less wastage.