Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan and NHS Planning Guidance commitments for 2019-20, what progress his Department has made on ensuring that all maternity services that do not deliver an accredited, evidence-based infant feeding programme, such as the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, begin the accreditation process; and if he will make a statement.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that out of 132 maternity provider trusts on record in England, 67 are currently fully accredited with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative and 53 have made progress towards accreditation. All remaining maternity provider trusts are expected to begin the accreditation process during 2019/20.

Public Health England (PHE) delivers a broad programme of work which contributes to increasing initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding. This includes interventions within the Healthy Child Programme which provides opportunities to discuss starting and sustaining breast feeding. To support midwives and health visitors, PHE provides up-to-date evidence and guidance on breastfeeding.