§ Dr. Strang,To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the change in local authority consumption in terms of value in actual and real terms of milk and other products eligible for the school milk scheme between(a) 12 school weeks before and 12 schools weeks after the removal of buttermilk and cheese from the school milk scheme and (b) 12 school weeks prior to and 12 school weeks after the reduction in funding for the school milk scheme.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding reply 8 March 1994]: No information on changes in local authority consumption in terms of the value of milk and milk products eligible under the school milk scheme is available on a 12-weekly basis. The change in local authority consumption in terms of actual value for eligible milk and milk products between the term—spring 1993—before the removal of buttermilk and cheese from the scheme on 1 April 1993 and the term —summer 1993—after was a reduction of subsidy totalling £5,639,666.01. No information will be available on changes in consumption following the 25 per cent. cut in the subsidy and the technical amendments, which came into force on 1 January 1994, until claims for the period have been received.