91997E2442

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2442/97 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission (16 July 1997)

Subject: EU Milk Availability Scheme

Does the Commission have comparative statistics on the amount of milk provided through the Milk Availability Scheme in all Member States?

How much more or less milk is provided in countries with privatized distribution systems?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (10 September 1997)

The table below gives the total quantity of milk and milk products distributed under the Community school milk scheme during the 1995/1996 school year in each Member State. These quantities are influenced by several elements, such as the number of eligible pupils, the pro capita consumption of milk in the Member State, the tradition of drinking milk at school, the practical organisation of the scheme, and specific initiatives taken by suppliers or local and school authorities to promote the scheme. Given this wide range of influences, the Commission is not able to assess the impact of privatised distribution systems on the uptake of school milk.

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