Suppliers are predicting the School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) will avoid the government axe following The Nursery Milk Scheme debacle.
Health minister Anne Milton last week suggested plans to cut free milk for under fives were being considered, but Downing Street ruled it out. Former Tory health secretary Stephen Dorrell said that the political risk “didn’t merit the rewards”.
Rumours have abounded in the industry that SFVS could also be in line for the chop. But one insider close to agricultural policy said the milk incident was a “huge own goal” and powers had been removed from departments so such decisions will now be made centrally. “The fruit and veg scheme is in a safer position now, more than ever,” he said. “The amount government would save is a comparative pittance and it would be a real shot in the foot as they would be seen as taking food from the mouths of children.”
Alistair Phillipson, head of corporate affairs at Capespan, which works with the scheme and won the Re:fresh 5 A DAY Supporter of the Year award in May, said: “We have been asked to sharpen our pencils to make the scheme more cost effective but it is very good value and it is definitely helping to improve children’s diet. It is a vehicle to promote the 5 A DAY message and we have a very good relationship with NHS Supply Chain.”
A department of health spokesperson said: “Funding for the School Fruit & Veg Scheme runs until 2010-11. Decisions about funding the scheme beyond 2010-11 will be subject to the spending review, which is due to complete in October.
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