The Provision of Free Milk in Schools

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 2:06 pm on 7 March 2018.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 2:06, 7 March 2018

Well, Simon, as you've acknowledged, the Welsh Government's school milk scheme is indeed unique amongst the United Kingdom home nations, being the only scheme that offers milk at no cost to the entire foundation phase. Over 99 per cent of maintained primary schools are signed up to the scheme, and as you said, it has a number of benefits for the children involved.

In 2017-18, the free school milk budget was £2.2 million, and even in the difficult scenarios that we've just been talking about with regard to education funding, I have been determined to keep that investment going because I realise and I recognise the benefits of the free milk scheme. We will continue to discuss this, but this is a live issue, it's not something we have forgotten about and we're actively engaged in how we can take this forward.