Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the total funding required for Start for Life services over the next Spending Review period; and of how much funding will be required to support (a) geographical and (b) age-range expansion.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious agenda to improve the nation’s health. As part of this, we will expand Start for Life services and integrate zero- to five-year-olds’ health and children’s services in communities, with a strong focus on the critical first 1,001 days.

The integration of health services in Best Start Family Hubs is fundamental to improving outcomes for babies, children and their families and delivering on Neighbourhood Health. This is why the Government will prioritise funding the continuation of existing Start for Life services including for infant feeding, perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationships.

Provisional funding allocations have been shared with local authorities. The Government remains committed to supporting all local areas to strengthen and join up health services for babies, children and their families.