Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will respond to the recommendations of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative UK Report 2016, published in November 2016.

The Department has no immediate plans to publish a response to recommendations of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Report 2016.

However, the Government is committed to supporting breastfeeding through the Healthy Child Programme. Breastfeeding is also included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework so that improvements can be tracked, and action taken as needed.

The Department is working with key partners UNICEF, Institute of Health Visitors, NHS England, Public Health England and Royal College of Midwives, to promote local, regional and national initiatives to improve breastfeeding support. Support and information is currently available to health professionals and parents through NHS Choices, the National Breastfeeding Helpline, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative and local peer support programmes.