Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to use health visitors to reduce health inequalities by (a) increasing the amount and time duration of breast feeding and (b) extending early educational intervention.

Local authorities have a duty to improve the health of their populations through the use of the public health grant. Public Health England (PHE) supports this through evidence to address health inequalities and guidance to professionals.

The six High Impact Areas for Early Years focus on key areas where health visitors have a significant impact on health and wellbeing and improving outcomes for children, families and communities. The guidance includes promotion of breastfeeding and health, wellbeing and development of the child aged two. Further information on the Six High Impact Areas is available to view here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-of-public-health-services-for-children

PHE works with local services to create breastfeeding friendly communities, with midwives and health visitors to promote best practice, and, through our Start4Life social marketing programme, to provide parents with trusted National Health Service advice.

PHE has developed an infant feeding commissioning resource in partnership with Unicef to support local authorities in the delivery of a comprehensive approach to the commissioning of services that protect, promote and support breastfeeding. PHE also shares innovative approaches for supporting breastfeeding.