§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the practice of many Scottish maternity hospitals in not recommending national dried milk.
§ Mr. William RossFor very young infants I am advised that human milk is the most suitable food and that breast feeding is always to be preferred. It is for the clinicians in hospitals to decide which milk substitute should be used in hospital or recommended to mothers who are unable or prefer not to breast feed their babies. Medical and scientific opinion has been hardening against the use of national dried milk or the similar unmodified proprietary brands for very young infants and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I are now considering urgently the most recent expert advice. I am advised that there are no grounds for suggesting that national dried milk or the unmodified proprietary brands are unsuitable for all infants over the age of about four to six months provided that they are used in correct proportion.