Former Conservative Health Secretary Stephen Dorrell has downplayed apparent government confusion over the proposed scrapping of free milk for under-fives.

Mr Dorrell, an ex-health secretary, told the Today programme that, whatever the evidence on the health benefits of milk, "politics is not purely rational".

"It was a proposal that was being discussed at a junior level in the government. Downing Street... clearly reached the conclusion... that the [political] risks didn't merit the reward," he said.

But Professor Ian Gilmore, of the Royal College of Physicians, said the move was "an interesting example of the government's selective attention to evidence".

He argued that while the lack of "cast iron" evidence on the health benefits of milk had led the coalition to consider ending the subsidy, evidence was being "ignored completely" on the reorganisation of NHS.

"I think it is giving us some mixed messages about the coalition government's commitment to improving population health," he said.

On this wider point, Mr Dorrell said that "understanding of the proper role of the state has undoubtedly moved on in recent years", arguing that people need to "accept responsibility for their own healthcare".

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.