Toilet-training: Support for Parents

Baroness Manzoor Excerpts

Monday 5th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I could not agree with my noble friend more. As someone on the front line who had to deal with the cuts to grants almost from day one of the new Government after 2010, so many of which fell on front-line children’s services, I think we are seeing the impact of those cuts. Sure Start was a proven model. I look forward to the rollout of the Best Start family hubs, which look to replace what was lost over the past decade and a half.

[Baroness Manzoor (Con)]

My Lords, as an ex-nurse, ex-midwife and ex-health visitor, and having run a large part of the National Health Service, I am aware, as my noble friend on the Front Bench has already said, that there is a real psychological impact on children who go to school without being appropriately toilet trained. On top of that, the number of health visitors has reduced quite dramatically, so they cannot provide the services, help and support that they need to give to mothers in need.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I am looking forward, as I am sure the noble Baroness is, to the professional strategy for nursing and midwifery, which will come out with our workforce plan through the 10-year plan for the health service. These are really important areas; we need to have a real focus. I am pleased that she recognises just what an important issue this is, how it can actually indicate further problems and what can be done to resolve them.