§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give priority both to pre-natal and post-natal nutrition in their own plans and those of health, education and social service authorities in connection with the forthcoming International Year of the Child; and if so what methods for improving the nutrition of children they have in mind.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThe Government recognise in several ways the importance of good nutritional standards for the expectant mother and her child and will continue to do so throughout 1979, which has been designated the International Year of the Child, as in other years. The Welfare Foods scheme provides cheap vitamins for all expectant mothers and young children and, where the family is large or the income is low, vitamins, and milk, are available free of charge.
Government publications on infant feeding practice (Present-Day Practice in Infant Feeding: Report on Health and Social Subjects No. 9) and the care of pregnant women and babies (Reducing the Risk: Safer Pregnancy and Childbirth) have provided the health authorities, health professions and the general public with nutritional advice and guidance. The forthcoming publication in the prevention and health series about the significance of diet for health will include advice on infant feeding and the dietary 1057WA needs of expectant mothers. The importance of human milk for young infants is recognised. There will be a publication in the Autumn on the subject of breast-feeding which will highlight the ways in which mothers can be helped to breast-feed. It will also emphasise the importance of professional advice and support to mothers who are either breast or bottle feeding. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy which advises on the medical and scientific aspects of nutritional policy has set up a working party to advise the Food Standards Committee on the composition of infant foods and to make recommendations. Their report is nearing completion.