LITTLE more than a third of primary school children in Hertfordshire are offered subsidised milk each day, according to a new report that reveals staggering inconsistencies across the country.

Under the EU subsidised School Milk Scheme, every primary age pupil is entitled to 250ml of cut price milk a day costing parents around £8 a term.

But new figures show just 38 per cent, or 32,011, five to 11 year olds in the county receive milk at break time, compared to 100 per cent in Glasgow and parts of Scotland, and less than one per cent in Slough and Reading.

The findings were published by the Dairy Council, which contacted all 250 Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in England, Scotland and Wales to ask whether they offered reduced price milk.

The results showed that only 12 provided milk to more than 70 per cent of children, while 16 authorities offered none at all.

The Dairy Council believes many children are missing out on school milk because LEAs wrongly believe that there is too much paperwork associated with the EU scheme.

Nutritionist Dr Michelle McKinley urged more LEAs to take up the opportunity to provide pupils with subsidised milk.

"Milk provides a whole host of vitamins and minerals that are essential for growing children," she said.

"If local authorities were to invest in school milk the teeth and bones of the next generation would be greatly helped."

Around half of all primary school children suffer from tooth decay, which dentists blame on too many sugary soft drinks. They recommend milk and water as the only safe drinks to have between meals.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire County Council defended its record on providing subsidised milk and said: "The council's willingness to help provide milk is shown by its position well inside the top third of a table of local authorities in the country detailing the percentage of pupils receiving milk.

"As well as providing the reduced rate milk, the council can also help children get free milk if their parents receive income support or income-based job seekers allowance."

Any parents who want to find out about school milk can contact the county council on 01438 737500.