Nursery Milk Scheme

EDM number 286 in 2012-13, proposed by Valerie Vaz on 28/06/2012.
Categorised under the topics of Child care and Health education and preventive medicine.

That this House acknowledges the importance of the Nursery Milk Scheme which has been running since the 1940s, funding milk for 55,000 childcare providers to reach 1.5 million children under five years old throughout Britain; notes that the Government is reviewing the Nursery Milk Scheme as part of the Next Steps for Nursery Milk Consultation Document; further notes that the main reasons for the review relate to the costs of the scheme; recognises that the Nursery Milk Scheme provides universal benefit to childcare providers and is importantin providing vitamin D supply to young children; further notes that four Chief Medical Officers recently highlighted the dangers of vitamin D deficiency, stating that there could be increased risk of rickets in young children; agrees that nursery milk is necessary to ensure that vitamin Dis consistently supplied to young children; furthernotes that it is vital for children to get the best start in life of which improving nutrition is an important factor; further notes thatcalcium, vitamin D and other minerals are best absorbed from milk in the early stages of a child's development; anticipates that a solution can be reached whereby the result is the continuation of the Nursery Milk Scheme as a universal benefit; and calls on the Government to ensure theprotection of the Nursery Milk Scheme and that nursery milk is provided ina mannerthat does not discourage childcareproviders.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.