Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to mandate the provision of milk in English state schools.

We know milk is excellent for children’s growth and development. Regulation 9 of the School Food Standards states that lower fat milk or lactose reduced milk must be available to children who want it for drinking at least once a day during school hours.

The department is updating the School Food Standards to ensure they reflect the latest scientific evidence on children’s diets and provide a modern, evidence‑based framework to support healthier eating in schools. As part of our proposals, this daily requirement is retained, with semi‑skimmed milk, skimmed milk or lactose-free milk continuing to be available for drinking at least once a day during school hours.

Under Section 512ZB (3) of the Education Act 1996, it is also a legislative requirement that milk is provided free of charge to pupils under the current free school meal criteria