Ministers are considering getting rid of the 1.5m subsidy schemeafter a Government-commissioned report by consultants London Economicssaid it "creates high administrative costs and has apparently smallbenefits for child health".
The milk is currently handed out to 1.2m children in nurseries andprimary schools in England every day. Instead, the report recommendshaving targeted schemes giving free milk to the poorest families,children in nursery education and teenage girls.
Joe Harvey, director of the Health Education Trust, agreed that thescheme is fundamentally flawed. "At the moment local authorities can optout if they want to and it is very much a postcode lottery," hesaid.
Barbara Hearn, director of policy and innovation for NCB, said: "Ratherthan forcing milk specifically on children they should have a choice ofhealthy drinks such as good quality water, smoothies or juice."
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