Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that school pupils and their parents or guardians are aware of the health benefits of nursery and school milk consumption.

We encourage schools to create a whole-school culture that promotes health and well-being so that all our children are fit, healthy and able to learn. We know schools treat this seriously, and many take their own steps to promote their milk provision. School governing boards are responsible for their food policies (including milk) and we trust them to decide what is best.

The new national curriculum, which came into effect in September 2014, also sets the expectation that across a variety of subjects, pupils are taught about the importance of healthy eating and nutrition. Since its introduction, we have strengthened the requirements on schools to teach children about food, nutrition and healthy eating and how to cook a range of dishes. For example, in primary schools, children are taught about healthy eating, where their food comes from, and how to prepare and cook a range of dishes. In secondary schools, cookery is now compulsory and children are taught to cook a range of healthy and nutritious meals. They are equipped with knowledge about healthy eating and what is meant by a balanced diet.

The current EU School Milk scheme is very well-established across the UK and plays a valuable role in encouraging consumption of milk from an early age. The EU Commission recently introduced legislation for a new scheme from August next year which includes a focus on the role of education in supporting milk consumption. We are working closely with stakeholders on our plans to implement the new scheme.