Background to the autumn 2004
conference emergency motion calling for a Breastfeeding Bill
A Green Party press office briefing
Prepared by Mark Fitzsimons
Edited by Spencer Fitz-Gibbon
Contact Green Party press office, 020
7561 0282, press@greenparty.org.uk
Breastfeeding Bill
1.
A Breastfeeding Bill was introduced to the
Scottish Parliament on 23 September 2004.
2.
The Bill proposes to change Scottish law to
make it an offence to stop a baby (meaning a child under two) being fed milk by
either breast or bottle, in any place where that baby is lawfully permitted to
be present.
3.
A person guilty of this offence could be
liable for a fine. The current fine is
up to £2,500.
4.
The Bill also encourages the promotion of
breastfeeding.
5.
The Bill is wide ranging and includes almost
everywhere: buses and trains, supermarkets and shops, restaurants, churches,
footpaths, parks etc. It would mean
that babies can be fed even in places where adults are not allowed to eat. No
specific places are exempted.
6.
The only exceptions are places where
children under two are not allowed anyway. Private premises would still be free
to exclude children or babies. If they do let children or babies in, they would
have to allow them to be breastfed.
7.
The Bill does not mention privacy or require
organisations to provide private places to breastfeed. Even if a private
breastfeeding area exists, mothers cannot be compelled to use it. Leading
Greens are arguing that places should be encouraged to make such provision
according to current examples of best practice, in order to provide the option
for a mother who wishes privacy.
8.
The Bill will be cheap to implement. The
main cost to organisations will be training staff to be aware of the new
offences.
A similar law in England and Wales
would not:
l
Require women to breastfeed.
l
Require organisations to have a policy on
breastfeeding.
l
Require organisations to spend money on
providing or converting facilities.
l
Impose any health and safety duties on
anyone.
What it would do:
While it will not
in itself increase the number of women breastfeeding, it could:
l
Return breastfeeding to being considered a
normal activity.
l
Create a supportive environment for women
who choose to breastfeed.
l
Make it easier for more women with babies to
go out, without fear of inconvenience caused by prejudice against
breastfeeding.
l
Encourage more women to try breastfeeding.
l
Encourage more women to continue
breastfeeding for longer.
l
Discourage people from challenging women who
are breastfeeding in public.
l
Promote the message that society considers
that breastfeeding is a good thing wherever it is done.
Why promote breastfeeding?
l
Breastfeeding boosts babies’ developing
immune systems.
l
Breastfeeding is much cheaper than bottle feeding.
l
Breastfeeding has low environmental impact –
it does not need processing, packaging, transporting or manufacturing.
Facts and figures:
1.
Both the Department of Health in England and
Wales and the World Health Organisation recommend exclusive breastfeeding for
the first six months of a baby’s life. However only 22% of babies in England
and Wales are still being breastfed at 6 months. Many of those have formula as
well as breast milk.
2.
The UK has one of the lowest breastfeeding
rates in Europe. Almost a third of women (29%) in England and Wales never try
to breastfeed, compared to 2% in Sweden.
3.
Women from higher socio-economic classes are
much more likely to breastfeed. For example, 90% of mothers in social class 1
start breastfeeding compared to 50% in social class 5.
4.
Mothers who are least likely to choose to
breastfeed are the young, those who have poor educational attainment and
mothers from disadvantaged groups. Over 40% of mothers under 24 never try to
breastfeed.
|
Prevalence of breastfeeding in England and
Wales (2000) |
||||||
|
Birth |
1
week |
2
weeks |
6
weeks |
4
months |
6
months |
9
months |
|
71% |
57% |
54% |
43% |
29% |
22% |
14% |
Do mothers want to breastfeed in public?
1.
Over two thirds (67%) of women believe that
the general public find breastfeeding in public unacceptable. But in fact most
people (84%) think it is fine for mothers to breastfeed their babies discreetly
in public. (1)
2.
Half of women who were breastfeeding at
about 20 weeks prefer a specially designated mother and baby room for
breastfeeding when they were out. The other half was split about equally
between those who prefer to breastfeed without going to a special place and
those who did not have a preference.
3.
While a law like the Breastfeeding Bill will
not directly help those mothers who do want private places to breastfeed their
babies, it will directly help the other half by making it clear that the law
supports their right to breastfeed wherever necessary. It may also encourage
those who currently desire privacy for breastfeeding to become more comfortable
with the idea of breastfeeding in public.
References
(1) Source:
Department of Health press release “Myths stop women giving babies
the best start in life”, 10 May 2004.
Available on the Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk.
All other data from Infant
feeding 2000, a survey carried out by
BMRB Social Research on behalf of the Department of Health, the Scottish
Executive, The Assembly for Wales and the Department of Health, Social Services
and Public Safety in Northern Ireland.
Authors: Becky Hamlyn, Sue Brooker, Karin Oleinikova,
Sarah Wands
Published 13 May 2002. Available on the Department of Health website www.dh.gov.uk.