§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on supporting the promotion of breastfeeding; what measures are being taken to support breastfeeding; and what future plans she has to promote breastfeeding.
§ Mr. SackvilleBased on medical advice, the Government have consistently supported breastfeeding as the best means of feeding a baby. We set up, under "The Health of the Nation" initiative, the national breastfeeding working group to coordinate action to promote and facilitate breastfeeding. We will be issuing fresh guidance on breastfeeding to the national health service shortly, drawing on the work of the national breastfeeding working group. We provide nationally produced publicity material for National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which this year will run from the 22 to 26 May. We are contributing towards the cost of the Health Visitors Association and Royal College of Midwives joint training programme "Invest in Breast Together" which will be launched during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week. We also provide funding, through section 64 grant aid, to the three voluntary organisations supporting breastfeeding.
We have taken steps to restrict the advertising and promotion of baby milks in the infant formula and follow-on formula regulations which came into force on 1 March 1995. These give a statutory basis to the restrictions on advertising in place since 1983 under the voluntary agreement with the baby milk manufacturers.
The quinquennial infant feeding surveys also provide information on breastfeeding and the factors likely to influence a woman's choice on how she feeds her baby. Field work for the 1995 survey will start later this year.