1. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote breastfeeding? OAQ52042

Thank you for the question. The Welsh Government recognises the importance of breastfeeding, and is committed to its promotion and increased uptake. Public Health Wales have responsibility for delivering this programme, and are leading national breastfeeding week, from 20 to 26 June. This will include a social media campaign and supporting professionals with local events, and I do hope that AMs across the Chamber will support and promote that week, and breastfeeding more generally.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies are well documented. However, it's really important that new mums receive the support that they need. Last year, I was really proud to attend the maternity unit at the Royal Gwent Hospital to see Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board receive the prestigious Baby Friendly award, and to pay tribute to the midwives and support workers for their commitment on this. In addition, progress has been made, with Newport City Council and the health board launching Breastfeeding Welcome. Through displaying a Breastfeeding Welcome logo, organisations show that they'll be friendly and supportive to mothers wanting to breastfeed. How can these initiatives of good practice be supported? And I wonder if you can give us an update on the task and finish group and the progress on that group and indicate when you expect it to report.

Thank you for the follow-up question. I welcome the steps made by Newport to make it expressly clear—no pun intended—that breastfeeding is welcome across the city. There's a model for other people to follow, because it is about encouraging mothers to breastfeed when they're out of the home, and actually encouraging all of us to be supportive in that environment as well. I did set up a task and finish group to look at improving breastfeeding rates in Wales last year, following a meeting with the Royal College of Midwives. Our breastfeeding rates have improved over the last 10 years—up to 61 per cent at birth—but we know that (a) we want that rate to be higher, but also for breastfeeding to continue. I am expecting the task and finish group to report to me within a month with those recommendations, and I expect to update Members not only on receipt of the report but the Government response to that report and its recommendations.

Andrew R.T. Davies.

Thank you, Presiding Officer, and I will stick to the subject. As a huge supporter of breastfeeding, having four children who were all breastfed, I can see the benefits of that. But, sadly, many new mothers give up after a short period of time and cite a lack of support, or a perceived lack of support, that they might have had from a designated midwife, because of pressure on community and maternity services. Have you, in the time that you've been health Secretary, identified that lack of support in the community, in particular the amount of time that expectant mothers can spend with a dedicated midwife to support them in breastfeeding and allowing them to continue right the way through the child's best part of its life?

I recognise the point made about how people are practically supported to both initiate and then also to continue breastfeeding. There's something about the broader expectation on mothers themselves, through pregnancy, as well as partners, family members, and broader society. And the point made about who is the right healthcare professional to support that mother, to support that family, is part of what I'm expecting the report—the task and finish report—to come back to me on. And if we need to think again about the mix of staff that we have—because it may not need to be a midwife; there are other healthcare professionals, including those who are experienced healthcare professionals who might be coming back in to work, as well, indeed, as volunteers. Because lots of what women say they have found effective are actually peer-to-peer support groups as well. So, there's a broader piece of work that I'm expecting to be done by that task and finish group to understand what we need to do, both employed healthcare staff, volunteers, and the broader changes that we all need to be part of helping to support within our society.