Calls for sumit on school milk subsidy

Following revelations of an economic report calling for milk subsidies for 1.3 million primary school children to be scrapped, Dairy UK, the cross-industry organisation representing the dairy industry has announced details of an industry wide summit taking place to discuss the report and it's detrimental consequences.

The summit will take place at Dairy UK's headquarters in London on Tuesday January 17 at 12.30pm. Interested parties spanning the industry and beyond are invited including the MDC, NFU, the Dairy Council, the independent charity Milk for Schools and organisations including Coolmilk at School.

Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK, said: "It is paramount that all members of the dairy industry collaborate in a bid to establish a uniformed industry response showing solidarity on the issue. This subsidy is highly valued by parents, teachers and schools as a method of delivering the nutritional benefits of milk to children."

Dairy UK will be responding to each relevant Government department outlining why they should back the top-up scheme and that by scrapping this subsidy, the most needy will be the hardest hit.

Jim Begg added: "We are happy to work with the Government to ensure the subsidy is administered efficiently. At a time when there are genuine concerns over the nutritional well being of children we should not be looking at ways of dismantling a tried and tested way of encouraging children to drink milk."

The report, produced by economic consultants, will be considered by Government departments of environment and rural affairs, health and education. It claims the current 'top-up' subsidy, which is paid to 12,000 schools in England, could save £1.5 million if it was withdrawn.