To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he has allocated to (a) an information campaign to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and (b) supporting a national helpline for breastfeeding mothers in the last three years, broken down by financial year. (184523)

Since 1993, the Department has supported the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (NBAW) as a key activity in promoting breastfeeding. The Department has provided support to the breastfeeding helpline since 2003 and we are committed to further support the development of a national helpline at local rates of pay.

The following table sets out the funding for the NBAW and the national helpline on breastfeeding from 2005 to 2008. In the year 2005-06 no central funding was available and NBAW operated at local levels.