5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: The Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report 2016-17

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:14 pm on 6 February 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 5:14, 6 February 2018

Thank you. I'd like to recognise Jenny's role in being a director of The Living Room, which is actually mentioned on page 24 of the report as part of section 7, about how people are helped to access support for people who suffer gambling-related harm—one of a number of positive initiatives. Again, I recognise what you have to say about the power of sport and gaming, either to impart positive messages or, indeed, to be used to advertise things where you think potential harm is caused as well.

On your point about breastfeeding—to finish, Llywydd—in last week's debate on the committee report into perinatal mental health, there was a section in that report and in my response that dealt with breastfeeding, not just in one specific area but more generally about our breastfeeding strategy in Wales, because we do recognise that, across all groups, we would like to see more people take up breastfeeding—well-recognised health benefits for the mother and the child. There's something there about having supportive partners as part of that as well, and a supportive society that recognises that it is an entirely natural thing that we want to encourage more of. And, within that, we recognise that, sadly, there is definitely a relation between income and likelihood of breastfeeding. So, that is part of the work that is being done now to understand where we have been successful and not, and, in both committees, in both the health committee and, indeed, in the Children, Young People and Education Committee, I expect to report back on when that strategy is ready. I expect I'll be scrutinised on that—every time I go before the children's committee, I know I can expect to have questions on breastfeeding. Until we see sustained improvement, I expect those questions will be there. So, I don’t shy away from it; it is an area of work that is being developed and led by Public Health Wales, and I will of course report back, not just to the committees, but to this place as well, as we do make progress—certainly as we reformulate where we wish to be on promoting breastfeeding right across Wales in every particular income group, but in particular those with the lowest take-up at present.