asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they are making to the European Commission regarding their proposals to make all subsidised school milk packaging carry the European Union flag. [HL2988]

The UK, with a number of other EU member states, has successfully lobbied the European Commission to drop the proposals to require the packaging for subsidised school milk to carry the EU flag.

In the most recent draft of the proposal, discussed on 17 April, the requirement was dropped. However, the proposal requires that schools participating in the EU school milk scheme display a poster advertising the scheme and the EU subsidy. Defra will continue to liaise with interested parties and lobby the Commission ahead of the expected vote on the proposals on 22 May to ensure that any publicity requirements do not place a disproportionate burden on schools.