HL Deb 23 June 1981 vol 421 cc960-2

2.50 p.m.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what decision was reached by the World Health Organisation on the proposal to establish an international code to restrict the sale of breast-milk substitutes to mothers in poor countries; what was the vote; how the United Kingdom voted; and which countries voted against.

Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

My Lords, the World Health Assembly, which is the governing body of the World Health Organisation, voted on 21st May to approve a resolution adopting an international code of marketing practice for breast-milk substitutes in the form of a recommendation to member states. This resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority of 118 votes to one with three abstentions. The United Kingdom delegation voted in favour of the resolution which the Government see as an important contribution to the aim of improving the standards of child-feeding throughout the world. The only delegation to vote against the resolution was that of the United States of America.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, is the Minister aware that many of us will want to welcome the attitude of the Government on this issue, and particularly the delegation which made a rebuke to the consortium of vested interests which lobbied against the code? Is it not the case that in third world conditions because of impure water, the absence of facilities for sterilisation, and the illiteracy of many of the mothers who cannot read the instructions, a million baby lives—hundreds already dead—have been endangered by past practices?

Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for what he said about the Government's attitude. I entirely confirm what he said about the danger to babies where water is contaminated and conditions for preparing food are unhygienic. I entirely agree with his views generally that this is an extremely important matter and many lives of babies are at risk.

Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord must be surprised at being congratulated by my noble friend. May I add my own congratulations to Her Majesty's Government. May I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware—I am sure he is—that it is not only a question of impure water, but that the women separate the fat from the milk and give it to their husbands, and the babies therefore—"Hear, hear!", says the noble Leader—get not only impure, poisoned powder but un-nutritional stuff? Can we ask Her Majesty's Government to impress upon the United States' Government, if possible—and at every opportunity in the UN agencies, World Health, FAO, and everywhere else—the dreadful practice of the aggressive selling tactics that the companies go in for?

Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

My Lords, the delegation from this country made their views extremely clear and they fully supported what the World Health Assembly were trying to do in the code of practice which has now been adopted. It was only adopted on 21st May and consultations will now be going on with the manufacturers and others interested in this matter. So far as the attitude of the United States is concerned, I think they know our views, but I do not think we can do very much more than we have already done.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, does the Minister agree that even in third world countries breast milk is infinitely preferable to artificial substitutes because it contains certain essential nutrients which are vital to the health and development of infants and which are not present in any of the artificial products on the market? Referring to the code of marketing practice which was adopted in the resolution, can the Minister say what steps the Government are taking to draw this to the attention of firms operating in this country, and whether in the resolution there is any method for enforcement?

Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

My Lords, I entirely agree with the noble Lord that the best food for babies is breast milk. It has many advantages, about which I do not think I need tell the House. Some noble Lords may think that a more appropriate person than myself should be answering the Question and that the combination of the noble Lord, Lord Brockway, and I might be improved; but still this is where we stand.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what happens when the mothers are starving and have no milk? What aid will then come to them?

Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

My Lords, if the mothers are starving and have no milk they will no doubt be unable to buy substitute milk.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, in this unusually congenial atmosphere may I ask the Minister if he would join us in paying tribute to War on Want, which first exposed this evil seven years ago, and whether he will either insert in the Official Report or place in the Library the actual terms of the code which has been adopted?

Lord Cullen of Ashbourne

Yes, my Lords; I entirely agree with the noble Lord, and I shall certainly place this in the Library.