Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-22617

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to police officers in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Question reference: S4W-22630

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made to the police in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by year.

Question reference: S4W-22616

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has made to support and encourage the breastfeeding of children by their mothers in each year since 2005.

The Scottish Government has continuously made arrangements to support and encourage the breastfeeding of children by their mothers since 2005 through a range of activities and interventions which include:

Year	Activity
2005	The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 to support the rights of breastfeeding mothers.
2006	Health Improvement, Efficiency, Access to Treatment (HEAT) target 7 to increase the proportion of new-born children exclusively breastfed at 6–8 weeks from 26.6% in 2006-7 to 33.3% in 2010-11. Funding provision for 200 DVDs which include two Health Scotland breastfeeding adverts.
2008-2011	Chief Executive Letter (CEL) 36 – funding provided, part of which is to support delivery of the HEAT 7 target on breastfeeding. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Review of public health guidance (PH11) - Improving the nutrition of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children in low-income households provides an evidence base for use of the funding: http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/PH011 Recruitment of an infant nutrition coordinator to implement an infant nutrition strategy for Scotland. The coordinator’s strategic role is to assist and coordinate activities, which will include breastfeeding, in Scotland.
2011-2012	Improving Maternal and Infant Nutrition: A Framework for Action (the framework) is the first framework which looks at the nutrition of mothers before and during pregnancy. The framework has an action plan of activities for all key partner organisations and seven out of the 30 actions focus on breastfeeding. We provide funding to health boards annually in order for them to carry out the work of the framework. A breastfeeding social marketing campaign was run in January 2011 and was repeated in June/July 2012 (the latter to coincide with the National Breastfeeding Week). The campaign was targeted at mums in lower socio economic groups aged between 19 and 35 as research shows that this group is much less likely to attempt or maintain breastfeeding due to a lack of confidence in their own abilities and the perceived stigma in communities where bottle feeding is commonplace. The campaign comprised of a television advert, outdoor posters and an updated feedgood factor website which provides help and support to breastfeeding mothers (http://www.feedgoodfactor.org.uk/)
2014	Funding provided to UNICEF to deliver the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) accreditation in maternity hospitals and community settings in Scotland. The BFI is a worldwide programme of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF which works with the health-care system to ensure a high standard of care related to infant feeding and very early child development. Support is provided for health-care facilities that are seeking to implement best practice, and an assessment and accreditation process recognises those that have achieved the required standard. We also fund the role of Professional Officer for Scotland which allows UNICEF to provide dedicated support to NHS boards in achieving and maintaining BFI accreditation.

Question reference: S4W-22618

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what information is provided to companies in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Question reference: S4W-22619

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what information is provided to mothers in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

There are universal resources, available to all pregnant women, which include reference to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. These are:

The Ready Steady Baby! book provided at initial booking with maternity services. There is also a Ready Steady Baby website: http://www.readysteadybaby.org.uk/

The booklet Off to a good start: All you need to know about breastfeeding your baby is provided at 28 weeks' gestation:

http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/120.aspx

Question reference: S4W-22628

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Lesley Thomson on 21 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many alternatives to prosecution have been pursued each year in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by (a) employers, (b) individuals and (c) bodies corporate and partnerships.

Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.

There has been one case reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service since the commencement of the Act in 2009. The case against the accused company as an employer was dealt with by way of a warning letter which is an alternative to prosecution.

Question reference: S4W-22621

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Lesley Thomson on 21 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to Procurator Fiscal Deputes when dealing with cases relating to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.

Full guidance is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes on the offence under the Act in section 1, how vicarious liability can apply as provided for in section 2 and how officials of a body corporate and partners can be personally liable as provided for in section 3.

Internal guidance and case marking instructions provide information on the action which should be taken in cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal under this section of the legislation.

Question reference: S4W-22620

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Lesley Thomson on 21 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.

Guidance on offences under the Act is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes which is outlined in the answer to S4W-22621 on 21 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S4W-22629

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Current Status: Answered by Lesley Thomson on 20 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how many warning letters have been issued to (a) employers, (b) individuals and (c) bodies corporate and partnerships in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, broken down by year.

Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises.

One case has been reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service since the commencement of the Act which was in 2009. I refer the member to the answer to S4W-22628 on 21 October 2014 – a company as employer was issued with a warning letter for one offence under section 1.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Question reference: S4W-22595

Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 1 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how it is using its powers under section 4 (2) of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

The Scottish Government is using its powers under section 4(2) of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 to disseminate information promoting and encouraging breastfeeding through a number of initiatives and activities, such as:

The Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) to deliver BFI accreditation in maternity hospitals and in community settings in Scotland.

‘Welcome to Breastfeed Here’ schemes, these are located in most health board areas in Scotland. Local breastfeeding friendly premises are made known to mothers.

NHS Health Scotland’s Breastfeeding Peer Support Guidance.

The Feedgood Factor website provides information and support about breastfeeding to mums.

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