Ministers today promised not to axe free school milk for the under-fives following a row over the sky-high cost of every pint.
Labour accused the Government of being “milk snatchers” for ordering savings in the £53 million spent each year on children’s milk.
The Department of Health demanded action after figures showed that free milk costs taxpayers 92p per pint — compared with 45p in the supermarkets.
That begged the question of how some of the biggest purchasers of milk in the country — buying supplies for 1.5 million children every day — could end up being charged twice as much as any shopper popping out for a single pint.
The issue is sensitive because Margaret Thatcher was given the nickname “Thatcher, Thatcher, Milk Snatcher” in 1971 when she scrapped free milk for the over-sevens to save money.
Under current rules, all under-fives in education for more than two hours a day are entitled to one-third of a pint.
Public health minister Anne Milton responded to the row by giving a public pledge to maintain the supplies. But she said better running should save the taxpayer £20 million a year.
“Milk has many benefits to children’s health. We are committed to continuing to provide free milk for all under-fives,” she said.
“But in four years, costs have jumped from £27 million in 2007 to a staggering £53 million in 2011.”
Labour’s Diane Abbott said new rules would make it too complex for nurseries to bother: “Trying to cut the cost of this scheme may end up snatching milk from the country’s children, disproportionately affecting the poorest.”
