Question reference: S5W-36029
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme will encourage nursery children to drink cow's milk and not cheaper alternatives.
Answer
The new Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme will replace the UK Nursery Milk Scheme in Scotland. Payments will be made under the new Scheme from 1 August 2021. The new policy will allow for all children in regulated pre-school settings which register for the Scheme to receive a portion of milk (or alternative) and healthy snack (portion of fruit or vegetables) each day they spend 2 hours or more in childcare.
Our ambition is to ensure that as many children as possible attending registered settings are in receipt of the milk and healthy snack policy, embedding the habit of regular consumption of high-quality dairy produce and fruit and vegetables from an early age.
Food Standards Scotland has advised that plain cow’s milk is the most nutritious drink and is what should be offered under the Scheme to children, except where they cannot drink it for medical, ethical or religious reasons. In these circumstances, children may be offered an alternative.
Our expectation is pre-school children will be provided with cow’s milk under the terms of the Scheme, except where this is not appropriate to their needs.