In the 1980′s Maggie Thatcher was labelled the “Milk Snatcher” after she decided to stop giving free milk to infant school children to help save money. There are now reports that the new Tory-Lib Deb coalition government are planning to stop free milk in nurseries and play schools.
Milk is an excellent way to boost the health of children, especially children from more deprived families where healthy fresh fruits and vegetables are not eaten as much. Studies have shown that children that drink milk throughout their childhood (up to 5 years) live longer lives.
This decision does not sound like a Liberal Democrat one, so we can only assume that the old Tories are now back in full power. Unlike the last time the Tories took milk away from children, this time that is likely to be a big debate, and no doubt Facebook pages devoted to campaigning for free milk.
“Abolition of the scheme is likely to be highly controversial, particularly as this will affect some children in low-income families. This should not prevent us from ending an ineffective universal measure – and this would clearly be the best time to do it, given the state of public finances and the need to make savings.” Department of Health
The only reason for cutting milk is the cost of supplying it. Currently the scheme costs around £50 million a year to run. Let’s hope that the money saved by cutting milk is at least spent on other health areas and not pumped into the defence budget. Also, what about the dairy farmers? This could drastically reduce demand for milk nationwide. While the farming community suffer once again at the hands of the Conservatives?
There has been a government U-turn with plenty if spin to make it sound like the idea was never a serious one in the first place.
The kids keep their milk.