HL Deb 16 November 1987 vol 490 cc77-8WA
Lord Graham of Edmonton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have received from the Dairy Trade Federation and other milk suppliers concerning the provisions of the Social Security Bill; and

What is their estimate of the total number of children likely to be affected by the implementation of Clause 11 (schemes for distribution etc, of welfare foods) of the Social Security Bill; and

What consultations they have held concerning the probable effect of the Social Security Bill on those families in receipt of welfare foods.

Lord Skelmersdale

Consultations on the welfare food aspects of social security reform were initiated in 1985 with Cmnd. 9518,Reform of Social Security. To date we have received no representations from the Dairy Trade Federation or any other milk supplier. Clause 11 is an enabling power, to replace the present out-of-date provision in the Emergency Powers (Reenactments and Repeals) Act 1964, so that a new welfare food order can be made as part of the review of social security. The Government will be making, at an appropriate time, an announcement about the detailed contents of the order.