Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of take up of the Healthy Start voucher scheme in 2020.

The Healthy Start scheme is kept under continuous review and the Government continues working to ensure that eligible families are aware of the scheme and how it will benefit them. The current uptake figure is 47%.

The scheme is promoted through the Healthy Start and Start4Life websites, reminding families to take up the vouchers. The Healthy Start Issuing Unit is also proactive in identifying and making contact with families who may be eligible for Healthy Start and issues invitations to apply for the scheme and pre-populated application forms by post.

The NHS Business Services Authority is delivering the project to digitise the Healthy Start Scheme. As part of the project, the NHS Business Services Authority holds monthly showcase events for stakeholders, this includes representatives from National Health Service trusts and local authorities. The NHS Business Services Authority will continue to communicate with all appropriate stakeholders in advance of each stage of the rollout of the digital project. The digital approach to Healthy Start will make it easier for families to apply for, receive and use Healthy Start benefits.

The project is due to begin the private beta phase later this year, followed by a public beta phase starting in early 2021, where new applicants will be able to apply for and use the digital service. The NHS Business Services Authority will also transfer beneficiaries who currently receive the paper-based voucher onto the new digital service from early 2021.