Written question WQ89717

We are pleased that in Wales we offer the most generous milk offer in the UK. For those schools who opt-in, the Welsh Government provides free milk for foundation years and subsided milk for those in KS2. This ensures that pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 are offered a free glass of milk each day or at a reduced cost for pupils in years 3-6.

I will confirm the funding for the school milk subsidy scheme for 2024/25 when it is published in the budget in December 2023.

On expanding the offer to all primary aged children, our immediate focus, and the focus of our partners, is on extending entitlement through the delivery of universal primary free school meals. In rolling out this offer, we are learning valuable lessons that will inform any future changes in relation to expanding our free school meal offer further, should budget become available.

Regarding encouraging take-up of the current offer, my officials regularly meet with the Rural Payments Agency (UK Gov), who administer the Scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government. They continue to work closely with the Agency and local authorities to understand any barriers that may prevent schools or pupils accessing the scheme.