About 1.2m children in two- thirds of English state nurseries and primary schools take advantage of the EU School Milk Subsidy Scheme. But a report produced by London Economics on behalf of the Government last week claimed that up to 1.5m could be saved if the current UK 'top-up' subsidy was withdrawn.
The report acknowledges the importance of providing milk to children in nursery education as the effects of consuming insufficient calcium could be 'more severe for younger than older children'. It also suggests that teenagers and children in low-income areas should continue to be targeted.
But dairy campaigners are concerned about the effect that such a move would have on primary school children aged five and over, the target group that would be directly affected by the withdrawal of the top-up money.
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