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20
The educational value of a Milk Depot and of Infants Consultations
Centres must not be lost sight of.
Lambeth Milk Assistance Scheme (Free or Aided Supplies;.
The Milk Assistance Scheme is still in existence, but the amount
of milk distributed thereunder, and the numbers of expectant and
nursing mothers and children under 5 years of age benefited have been
correspondingly reduced on account of the lowness of the present
income-limit allowed by the Ministry of Health owing (in the opinion
of the Ministry) to the need for national economy. The Old Milk
Orders and the unrestricted Milk Assistance Scheme had proved,
beyond doubt, since 1918, the great value of milk as an accessory food
for expectant and nursing mothers and for children under 5 years
of age. This value of milk as an accessory food is still being proved
in Iambeth (and elsewhere) but the numbers benefited are, unfortunately,
owing to the present decision of the Ministry, fewer. The
administration of the Lambeth Milk Assistance Scheme is carried out
by the different Welfare Centres (including the Milk Depot), and much
additional work has, consequently, been thrown upon the various
administrative staffs concerned (in some instances, extra help having,
to be engaged).
The figures giving the cost of the Lambeth Milk Assistance
Scheme (free or aided supplies) are interesting as showing the comparatively
large amount of milk (ordinary milk and dried milk), which
has been distributed under such Scheme, which first came into force
on February 8th, 1918, under powers given by the Milk (Mothers and
Children) Order, 1918, and the Local Authority (Food Control Order
(No. 1), 1918. The figures are as follow :—
Years.
(Financial)
Cost of Milk distributed
Total Cost.
Total amount
of Milk
distributed in
gallons
(approximately)
Through
Welfare Centres.
Through
Milk Depot.*
1918-19
(3 m'ths.)
232
15
3
69
4
3
301
!9
6
3,i5i
1919-20
2,780
0
10
557
10
1
3,337
10
11
34,827
1920-2 I
13,836
7
3
1,564
7
3
15,400
14
6
160,703.
1921-22
4,596
8
S
1,172
0
8
5,768
9
1
60,192
1922-23
3,553
15
4
1,064
19
5
4,618
14
9
48,196
1923-24
3,38°
15
1
353
I5
3
3,734
11
2
38,969
1924(9
m'ths.)
2,177
4
0
100
19
2
2,278
3
2
23,772
Totals
.£30557
7
0
£4,882
16
1
£35,440
3
1
369,810
gallons.
* N.B.—See also the figures for the Milk Depot, dealing with milk supplied to
all cases (necessitous and non-necessitous) on pp. 18, 19, representing for the
6 years 1918-1924 a net expenditure of £2,937 6s. 2d. (total expenditure
-£12,904 3s. 4d. less receipts from mothers of £9,966 17s. 2d.),