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Mick Bates

Press Releases 2007

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A Cardiff School is set to become the first in Wales to offer Welsh school milk in totally recyclable poly bottle thirds to all primary age children. All children in Wales aged 5-7 already receive milk free as part of an Assembly scheme. Now Moorland Primary in Splott is to offer those aged 7-11 the chance to buy in to the scheme.

Moorland Primary school is offering Welsh milk in a totally recyclable third pint poly bottle produced by Dairy Farmers of Britain who are keen to promote local procurement and sustainability throughout Wales. With a dairy based in Bridgend, Dairy Farmers of Britain are pleased to be able to offer schoolchildren Welsh milk in a cool little bottle that is proving popular with children of all ages. The innovative dairy has for some time been working on trials assisted by the Eco Schools ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ team and the Wales Environment Trust to help the Local Education Authorities and Schools meet their recycling targets with their packaging waste.

Mick Bates will be joining Splott Councillor Gavin Cox with staff and pupils at Moorland Primary School, Splott, Cardiff on Thursday 22nd at 13:45 to help the school launch their new scheme and encourage wider take-up across Wales.

Mick Bates AM Liberal Democrat Environment & Rural Affairs Spokesperson – the Assembly Member whose campaign led to the reintroducing free school milk for Key Stage 1 kids in Wales – is delighted that schools can take regional milk . He said: “ Since the reintroduction of free milk for Welsh school children up to Key Stage 1 in 2001, it is fantastic that schools like Moorland Primary School are taking the initiative to offer the older children milk at break-time.”

Mick Bates added: “There are so many benefits to this scheme: It′s healthy – milk consumed regularly at an early age has been shown to reduce cases of osteoporosis in later life; It′s wealthy – by supporting local producers of milk, Moorland Primary School is helping the dairy industry struggling under the huge buying power of supermarkets whilst also cutting down on food miles by encouraging local procurement; It′s wise – consuming milk increases learning in children who benefit from a nutritious start to the day."

Milk, available in a totally recyclable carton, means there′s no harm to the environment and it′s supported by Eco Schools ‘Keep Wales Tidy’ team and the Wales Environment Trust to help the Local Education Authorities.

Splott Councillor Gavin Cox added: “Milk is such an important part of a child’s growth; it is excellent to see a school in my area working hard to ensure that all their children have the option of a healthy drink that has been produced locally and in an environmentally-friendly way. ”

Julie Davies from Dairy Farmers of Britain has been working in South Wales with schools for approximately 8 years and was present for the School Milk Research Project when Mick Bates launched the campaign for free milk in schools for Key Stage 1 children in 2001. Julie went on to say that during this time she has seen a fantastic increase in the consumption of milk in young children. She attributes this to the support given by the Welsh Assembly, Local Education Authorities and Schools in South Wales.