Prime Minister urged to intervene on nursery milk consultation

In letters sent to the Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the Alliance expressed worries that the Department of Health’s proposals could negatively impact on the number of children receiving their free milk, because of the added administrative burden childcare staff will face if the plans go ahead.

According to the School and Nursery Milk Alliance, its members have expressed growing anxieties that young children, who attend early years settings at least two hours a day, will cease to receive their free one-third pint of milk each day.

The Department of Health (DoH) consultation, which was launched last June to try to reduce the rising costs of the scheme, proposed a number of cost-cutting options. They include capping the price that can be claimed for milk, issuing e-voucher cards and direct supply and delivery of milk under a central contract.

The consultation deadline was later extended by six weeks to give more nurseries and schools a chance to respond because of its bad timing over the summer holidays.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Jon Thornes, interim chair of the School and Nursery Milk Alliance, (right), said, ‘We are concerned that the Department of Health’s proposed options as part of its consultation will have the unintended consequence of many young children ceasing to receive their free one-third pint of milk each day, due to the added burden that staff in childcare settings will face under the new arrangements.

‘I believe this is an outcome which will regrettably undermine your own personal commitment, one I very much share, to improving childcare across the country. The health benefits of milk are well-recognised, contributing to teeth and bone health and contributing to the fight against obesity – particularly important given current concerns over high levels of childhood obesity.’

He went on to criticise the Department of Health for failing to claim the rebate it is entitled to from the European Union.

The interim chair of the School and Nursery Milk Alliance said, ‘We urge the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to personally intervene to ensure that the Government’s focus is on children’s well-being rather than just the bottom line.

‘While we fully understand the concern that the costs of the Nursery Milk Scheme have risen in recent years, the Department of Health is yet to recognise that a significant proportion of the rising costs is due to a significantly higher number of children receiving milk through the scheme, which is a positive change that should be universally welcomed.’