The coalition government was accused of making policy "on the hoof" yesterday after plans to remove free milk for the under-fives were summarily dropped by David Cameron amid fears it would remind voters of the "Thatcher milk snatcher" episode of the 1970s. Cameron moved so quickly that David Willetts, the higher education minister, was on live television defending the idea of removing free milk when the prime minister announced the U-turn, leaving broadcasters to tell Willetts of the change.
Big boy for five
The idea of cutting free milk had been the brainchild of the junior health minister, Anne Milton, who today received the full backing of the prime minister and the health secretary. A spokesman for the Department of Health saidtoday the proposal was "one of the options" being considered, adding: "We have decided to rule it out. "The prime minister and the secretary of state for health have full confidence in Anne Milton," he said. "She is a very good minister doing what she was asked to do – come up with ideas to save money. But we are not going ahead with this one."
The government expected opposition to the measure from the media, parents, nurseries, childminders and the dairy sector. In a letter to the Scottish Office, Milton said: "Abolition of the scheme is likely to be highly controversial, particularly as this will affect some children in low-income families." She added: "This should not prevent us from ending an ineffective universal measure … given the state of public finances and the need to make savings." Milton said that the cost of running the scheme in England this year was nearly £50m and would rise to £59m in 2011-12. She said the programme did not "provide value for money in difficult times" and had "become increasingly outdated". Health was one department that had been due to have its budget protected in the autumn spending review.
The plan had not been relayed to Cameron personally, and the swiftness of his response appears to show the resonance Thatcher's decision still has within Downing Street. Thatcher's plan to halt free school milk for the over-sevens as education secretary in 1971 remains one of the most remembered aspects of her political career. Asked about Milton's plans on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show this morning, Willetts said: "We're having a comprehensive spending review, so we are looking at a whole range of options. This is one of the options that is being looked at. "If it were to happen, and no final decision has been taken, then obviously it would be very important to protect the poorest families and make sure that they continue to have access to a healthy diet."
But even as the minister spoke, Downing Street was making clear to reporters that the idea would not be going ahead. When this information was conveyed to Willetts on screen, he replied: "We have to look at a whole range of options. Of course they have to be looked at on their merits." He added: "We have an endless process of assessing options. Of course, it is inevitable that if you go through those decisions, some options go ahead and others don't." However, Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, dismissed the notion that the proposal was not being seriously considered. "This was not an off-the-cuff piece of policymaking," he said. "This was at the final stages of consultation." Ed Balls added: "This is a coalition in chaos, making policy on the hoof."
The government expected opposition to the measure from the media, parents, nurseries, childminders and the dairy sector. In a letter to the Scottish Office, Milton said: "Abolition of the scheme is likely to be highly controversial, particularly as this will affect some children in low-income families." She added: "This should not prevent us from ending an ineffective universal measure … given the state of public finances and the need to make savings." Milton said that the cost of running the scheme in England this year was nearly £50m and would rise to £59m in 2011-12. She said the programme did not "provide value for money in difficult times" and had "become increasingly outdated". Health was one department that had been due to have its budget protected in the autumn spending review.
The plan had not been relayed to Cameron personally, and the swiftness of his response appears to show the resonance Thatcher's decision still has within Downing Street. Thatcher's plan to halt free school milk for the over-sevens as education secretary in 1971 remains one of the most remembered aspects of her political career. Asked about Milton's plans on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show this morning, Willetts said: "We're having a comprehensive spending review, so we are looking at a whole range of options. This is one of the options that is being looked at. "If it were to happen, and no final decision has been taken, then obviously it would be very important to protect the poorest families and make sure that they continue to have access to a healthy diet."
But even as the minister spoke, Downing Street was making clear to reporters that the idea would not be going ahead. When this information was conveyed to Willetts on screen, he replied: "We have to look at a whole range of options. Of course they have to be looked at on their merits." He added: "We have an endless process of assessing options. Of course, it is inevitable that if you go through those decisions, some options go ahead and others don't." However, Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, dismissed the notion that the proposal was not being seriously considered. "This was not an off-the-cuff piece of policymaking," he said. "This was at the final stages of consultation." Ed Balls added: "This is a coalition in chaos, making policy on the hoof."
