New Education Secretary Gavin Williamson commits to funding school milk after Brexit. The announcement follows the UK commitment to leave the EU School Milk Scheme, which subsidises school milk, when it leaves the EU.The Alliance says this provides welcome certainty for school milk in an otherwise uncertain political environment.

Gavin Williamson MP, has written to the School & Nursery Milk Alliance in response to our letter asking for certainty for school milk. Mr Williamson has said that the new government will honour the commitments made by the previous Prime Minister Theresa May to continue to fund school milk after Brexit, whether we leave with or without a deal.

In his letter Mr Williamson said :”Healthy school food and drink has obvious health benefits and can help to establish healthy eating habits for life. Healthy school food and drink also help to improve children’s readiness to learn and their behaviour at school.

“The department supports the provision of nutritious food in schools to enable pupils to be well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and to concentrate and learn in school. As stated in the School Food Standards, dairy products, such as milk, are a rich source of energy, protein, calcium, vitamin A and riboflavin.

“ As we leave the EU, we are also rolling over the existing school milk framework under the EU Withdrawal Act, which will support future decisions on the Scheme. Whether we agree a deal with the EU or not, funding will continue to be available, and we will keep this under review.”