Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Steve Brine and Kwasi Kwarteng

Tuesday 24th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne) (Con)]

10. What plans the Government have to improve support for the children of alcohol-dependent parents.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Brine)]

Alcohol addiction has a devastating impact on individuals and their families, and it is unacceptable that children bear the brunt of their parents’ condition. That is why we are investing £6 million over three years to support vulnerable children living with alcohol-dependent parents. I pay tribute to the former Secretary of State and to the shadow Secretary of State for their leadership in making this happen.

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

I thank the Minister for his answer, but this is obviously a much wider problem, affecting more than just the children of alcohol-dependent parents. Will he tell the House what more can be done to ensure that people in the wider community can access that kind of help?

[Steve Brine]

We are working on an alcohol strategy, which is being led by the Home Office, and I have spoken to a number of stakeholders in the last two weeks at the various roundtables I have been holding. On the question of alcohol-dependent parents with children, we are working through local authorities, which is important, but as part of the investment that I have mentioned, there is also £500,000 going into expanding the helpline provision for children who find themselves in this position. I have heard time and again when talking to children affected by this that being able to say that they are not alone in this is often a great place to start. The helpline will be very important in that regard.