Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people enrolled in the NHS Healthy Start Scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; and what steps they are taking to improve take-up of the Healthy Start Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In August 2026, the Healthy Start Scheme supported over 347,000 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Healthy Start figures are published on the Healthy Start website. To improve uptake, the NHS Business Services Authority promotes the Healthy Start Scheme through its digital channels, online, and via traditional advertising opportunities, event exhibits, and through working with stakeholders and the media.

In relation to the number of eligible individuals who are not yet claiming the Healthy Start Scheme, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 20 April 2026 in response to Question 124608, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below.

We do not hold data on the proportion of families eligible to participate in the Healthy Start Scheme. As of 26 March 2026, there were 354,989 people on the digital scheme across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The data is based on individual people and is not the same as the number of families or households as there could be multiple beneficiaries living within one household.

The data includes the number of people on the digital scheme, formerly entitled beneficiaries, who have been accepted onto the scheme through an online application and issued a prepaid card at a specific point in time. This includes the number of children under the age of four years old and the number of pregnancies over ten weeks.

We continue to work with retailers on ways they can support the Healthy Start scheme, including on technical solutions to provide top-ups.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of eligible individuals who are not yet claiming the NHS Healthy Start Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In August 2026, the Healthy Start Scheme supported over 347,000 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Healthy Start figures are published on the Healthy Start website. To improve uptake, the NHS Business Services Authority promotes the Healthy Start Scheme through its digital channels, online, and via traditional advertising opportunities, event exhibits, and through working with stakeholders and the media.

In relation to the number of eligible individuals who are not yet claiming the Healthy Start Scheme, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 20 April 2026 in response to Question 124608, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below.

We do not hold data on the proportion of families eligible to participate in the Healthy Start Scheme. As of 26 March 2026, there were 354,989 people on the digital scheme across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The data is based on individual people and is not the same as the number of families or households as there could be multiple beneficiaries living within one household.

The data includes the number of people on the digital scheme, formerly entitled beneficiaries, who have been accepted onto the scheme through an online application and issued a prepaid card at a specific point in time. This includes the number of children under the age of four years old and the number of pregnancies over ten weeks.

We continue to work with retailers on ways they can support the Healthy Start scheme, including on technical solutions to provide top-ups.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the barriers that prevent supermarkets from offering financial top-ups, similar to those offered under the previous paper voucher system, to the NHS Healthy Start scheme under the current digital prepaid card system; and what action they are taking to overcome those barriers.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In August 2026, the Healthy Start Scheme supported over 347,000 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Healthy Start figures are published on the Healthy Start website. To improve uptake, the NHS Business Services Authority promotes the Healthy Start Scheme through its digital channels, online, and via traditional advertising opportunities, event exhibits, and through working with stakeholders and the media.

In relation to the number of eligible individuals who are not yet claiming the Healthy Start Scheme, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 20 April 2026 in response to Question 124608, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below.

We do not hold data on the proportion of families eligible to participate in the Healthy Start Scheme. As of 26 March 2026, there were 354,989 people on the digital scheme across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The data is based on individual people and is not the same as the number of families or households as there could be multiple beneficiaries living within one household.

The data includes the number of people on the digital scheme, formerly entitled beneficiaries, who have been accepted onto the scheme through an online application and issued a prepaid card at a specific point in time. This includes the number of children under the age of four years old and the number of pregnancies over ten weeks.

We continue to work with retailers on ways they can support the Healthy Start scheme, including on technical solutions to provide top-ups.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on data-sharing arrangements between the Department of Work and Pensions and Department for Education to ensure that children automatically qualify for free school meals as their families move onto the expanded Universal Credit from September 2026.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We want to ensure that every family that needs support can access it. Extending free school meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit represents a significant step towards achieving that objective. The expansion provides over half a million additional children with access to a free, nutritious lunchtime meal and is expected to lift around 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.

The department has upgraded the eligibility checking system, which makes it easier to check if children are eligible for free meals. We also have worked closely across government, including with the Department for Work and Pensions, and with schools and local authorities to support implementation and raise awareness.

The department will monitor take-up as the expansion is implemented.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to introduce national auto-enrolment for free school meals for all children in households receiving Universal Credit.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We want to ensure that every family that needs support can access it. Extending free school meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit represents a significant step towards achieving that objective. The expansion provides over half a million additional children with access to a free, nutritious lunchtime meal and is expected to lift around 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.

The department has upgraded the eligibility checking system, which makes it easier to check if children are eligible for free meals. We also have worked closely across government, including with the Department for Work and Pensions, and with schools and local authorities to support implementation and raise awareness.

The department will monitor take-up as the expansion is implemented.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of children who do not receive free school meals they are entitled to; and what steps they are taking to ensure that all eligible children receive free school meals.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. From September 2026, eligibility for free school meals (FSMs) was extended to all children in households receiving Universal Credit, providing over half a million additional children with access to a free, nutritious lunchtime meal. The department recognises the vital role played by FSMs and encourages all eligible families to claim the support to which they are entitled.

The department has upgraded the Eligibility Checking System, making it easier to identify children who are eligible for FSMs. We have also worked closely across government, including with the Department for Work and Pensions, as well as with schools and local authorities, to support implementation and awareness of the expanded entitlement.

The department does not routinely assess the number of children who are entitled to FSMs but do not receive them.

The department will continue to monitor take-up of FSMs following implementation of the expansion, including through the school census.