The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tories accused of scare tactics on baby boxes
Safety data already published, Scots Conservative health spokesman told
Nicola Sturgeon has accused the Scottish Conservatives of “needlessly trying to frighten parents” after the party called for all safety documentation on the baby box to be published.
Miles Briggs, Scottish Tory health spokesman, said there should be “complete transparency” from the SNP over the advice received about the boxes, which have been delivered to more than 22,000 families since they launched last August.
The kits, which contain essential items for newborns, are also promoted as a safe place for babies to sleep.
However, cot death expert Dr Peter Blair raised concerns about the safety of the boxes in a memo to the Scottish Government, The Guardian reported.
At First Minister’s Questions, Nicola Sturgeon said all safety certificates had been published.
Asked by Mr Briggs to set out all safety advice the government had received from experts, Ms Sturgeon said: “I think the Tories should be deeply ashamed of themselves for needlessly trying to frighten parents.
“Miles Briggs called for all of the safety accreditation to be published, that was done months ago and I don’t believe Miles Briggs doesn’t know that. The question, therefore, is why is he trying to wilfully mislead people about that?
“The baby box conforms to all relevant safety standards, there isn’t yet a specific British standard for baby boxes but the baby box conforms to the standards in place for a crib or a cradle for domestic use, and that includes passing all of the necessary stability, static load and strength safety tests.”
She added: “I just wonder, what is it about the baby box that so offends the Conservatives? Is it just because it is SNP policy or is it because it’s giving state support to families when the Tory preference is always to take that away from families?”
Dr Blair, chairman of the International Society for the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death, told The Guardian: “I’m not saying don’t use the baby box, I’m just saying that you’ve got to be careful with the advice of how much you can promote it as a safe sleeping space.”
Mr Briggs said the information that has emerged is “deeply concerning” and called for all documentation about the safety of the boxes to be published.
He said: “The SNP has used every opportunity to talk up the baby box policy and attack anyone who asked questions about their use.
“All official documentation relating to the safety and the certification of baby boxes must be published immediately.
“Only that way can parents have faith in this SNP government’s plans. This is not a public relations exercise – it is about child safety.”