Brexit could see free EU milk dry up in schools
WELSH ministers are exploring ways of replacing the EU school milk scheme after Brexit.
Currently all pupils over the age of five in Britain receive a subsidised portion of milk via an EU-aided scheme administered by UK rural ministry Defra.
In Wales the scheme is more lavish, thanks to extra funding from the Welsh Government, so that children up to the age of seven can get free milk.
In addition, children aged over seven can access subsidised milk.
Defra has committed to remaining in the existing scheme until 2019 and says it is looking to develop a post-Brexit programme.
But the School and Nursery Milk (SNM) Alliance fears the scheme could be scrapped and has written to Welsh AMs asking for their support.
Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru’s rural affairs spokesman, raised the spectre of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who was famously dubbed the “Milk Snatcher” for ending free school milk for the over-sevens during her time as UK education secretary in the early 1970s.
Mr Thomas said the scheme provided an important outlet for Welsh dairy farmers.
“We could now see school milk snatched from our children’s hands,” said Mr Thomas.
“A commitment from the Welsh Government to support post-Brexit school milk subsidies would help ensure the development of a new scheme [by Defra].
“Plaid Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to take a stand and give a commitment that children in schools across Wales do not have their subsidised milk snatched from them after Brexit.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said the current scheme in Wales is more generous than in the rest of the UK.
“Uniquely, we provide free school milk to children in the Foundation Phase,” he said.
“We will explore options for the future of the scheme, as part of our wider consideration around departure from the EU.”
Polling by the SNM Alliance revealed widespread public support for replacing the school milk scheme.
Six in 10 want the scheme replaced by a UK-funded equivalent after Brexit, and almost as many believe that schools should be legally required to provide milk to primary school pupils.