Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make it her policy to (a) consult experts on and (b) develop a strategy to help prevent foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

The Government recognises that foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can have a significant impact on the early years of development of children and their life chances. Officials regularly meet with third sector organisations and academics to discuss the risks and impacts of alcohol consumption in pregnancy.

While we are not developing a specific FASD prevention strategy, we are taking a wide-ranging approach to reducing alcohol harms. Through the Drug Strategy, we committed an extra £532 million of funding over three years, through to 2024/25, to improve alcohol and drug treatment services. Local authorities are encouraged to develop programmes which provide tailored support to different populations, such as pregnant women.

Some £27 million has been invested in establishing specialist alcohol care teams in a quarter of acute hospitals in England with the highest need, and we are providing approximately £300 million in funding to 75 local authorities through the family hubs and Start for Life programme. Family hubs funded through that programme are encouraged to provide full wrap-around support for families and pregnant women, which may include alcohol support services.

The Department has recently consulted on the first ever United Kingdom-wide clinical guidelines on harmful drinking and alcohol dependence, which includes guidelines setting out how maternity, alcohol treatment and other healthcare professionals should support pregnant women to reduce or stop their alcohol use as quickly and safely as possible. The consultation closed on 8 December 2023 and a response will be published in due course.