Panorama · Season 18 · Episode 8

Free School Milk

Monday, April 26

A report from Panorama exploring the Conservative plan to withdraw free milk for children over seven years old and increase the price of school dinners. Mothers and teachers voice their concerns, but Margaret Thatcher defends her cuts and promises to plough the money that is saved back into school buildings. Public Record documents released in 2001 show Margaret Thatcher to have been very worried about the public reaction to the end of free milk, though she also proposed cuts in other areas. Arguing that charging for library books would be too controversial, she suggested instead that entry fees to national museums could be introduced.