Theresa May’s plan to cut a long-running milk scheme in nurseries leads to ‘Milk snatcher’ criticism Conservative MPs are reportedly concerned at plans to cut the scheme to fund healthy food vouchers for low-income parents.

Theresa May is expected to cut a long-running milk scheme in nurseries to locate funds to pay for healthy food vouchers for low-income parents.

Conservative MPs are reportedly concerned at plans while Labour have made comparisons Thatcher’s ‘Milk Snatcher’ title from the 1970s, The Times reported.

Ministers plan to debate increasing the value of the healthy start scheme as a method to tackle obesity.

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It provides those who are pregnant on a low-income, as well as parents with children aged under four, vouchers that can be exchanged for fresh or frozen fruit or vegetables. The scheme is open for those with a take-home pay of £408 per month or less.

Milk scheme for children under 5

Last week, the chief secretary to the Treasury – Liz Truss – agreed with Ministers at the Department of Health and Social Care that the expanded voucher scheme could be paid for by savings to the nursery milk campaign.

Under the Department of Health, the milk scheme allows any children under five who attend approved daycare facilities to receive a third of a pint free each day.

Health ministers are challenging plans and claim savings could be made without changing claiming eligibility for the nursery milk – they say cuts could be made to the administration costs, quality of product or the amount handed out to children.

Historically divisive

Milk in schools has been a fraught topic for the Conservatives since 1971 as Thatcher, who was education secretary, stopped children over seven from receiving free milk.

One senior Tory MP reportedly said most ministers would realise that touching the free milk scheme was “fairly toxic, however it’s dressed up”.