§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what considerations underlay the decision to reduce subsidies for school milk; and if he will list(a) the gross estimated savings to the Government in Wales on account of this change and (b) the net savings after deducting the EU contribution towards the cost of the scheme. [7407]
§ Mr. HagueThe Government are withdrawing support from 1996–97 for the discretionary elements of the EC school milk subsidy scheme. The elements affected are milk for school catering and for secondary school children. Estimates suggest that only around 20 per cent. of the total number of children of all ages currently benefit from the scheme. In the light of this it is doubtful whether either element has had any significant effect on the encouragement of milk consumption, which is the objective of the EU scheme.
Savings will amount to approximately £6 million per annum in European funding, which will represent a net saving to the Exchequer of about £4 million per annum for the UK. Separate figures are not available for Wales.