Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on cross-Government implementation of (a) proposals for a national evidence-based digital parenting offer and (b) other policies within the Best Start in Life strategy.

Giving all babies and children the best start in life is the foundation of the Opportunity Mission and the first step towards delivering the Government’s commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and I have a shared ambition to ensure that every child has a happy, healthy start to life, regardless of background. We discuss the collective progress on delivering policies within the Best Start in Life Strategy through a range of forums, including Opportunity Mission Board meetings and during bilateral conversations.

Together, we recognise the critical role that high-quality, evidence-based parenting support plays in improving childhood outcomes. This includes supporting the Plan for Change target for a record 75% of five-year-olds to reach a good level of development by 2028. In line with this, we continue to discuss the progress made towards delivering a national digital parenting offer, as committed to in the Best Start in Life Strategy.

I look forward to continuing the close collaboration with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education as we work together to deliver our shared ambitions.