HC Deb 26 May 2004 vol 421 c1698W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop a breastfeeding strategy. [174623]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The Government do not currently have any plans to develop a breastfeeding strategy. We have a commitment in the NHS Plan to increase support for breastfeeding and we have set a target in the Priorities and Planning Framework (2003–06) to increase breastfeeding initiation rates by two percentage points, focusing particularly on women from disadvantaged groups. The Commission for Health Improvement has set an indicator, which will look at progress towards meeting the target.