Dairy UK calls for immediate increase in healthy start vouchers value

Dairy UK has today, Wednesday, called for the Government to immediately raise the value of its Healthy Start voucher.

Milk, fresh fruit and vegetables are the benefits available to recipients of the vouchers. However, rising prices mean that the real value of this targeted nutritional benefit has dropped by over 20% since the voucher value was first set four years ago.

A survey undertaken by Dairy UK on over 4,000 milkrounds across the country indicated that milk delivered to Healthy Start beneficiaries has reduced by over 42% on the equivalent provision under the old Welfare Milk Scheme. This has a significant impact on the profitability and viability of the greatly valued doorstep milk delivery business, which is instrumental in targeting this very valuable benefit directly to voucher recipients.

Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK said: "To maintain the provision of sufficient quantities of milk and fresh fruit and vegetables as envisaged for the beneficiary by Government, we would suggest that the voucher value is increased by 60p to £3.40 with immediate effect."