Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Nash on 30 July (HL1559–62), what assessment they have made of The Children’s Society’s report <i>The Right Start </i>in respect of the number of local authorities that do not routinely share live birth data with children’s centres; and what plans they have to ensure that health services and local authorities share live birth data.

My officials, and officials at the Department of Health, have reviewed the report and met representatives from The Children’s Society to discuss the issues raised and the work that the Government is taking forward in this area.

The Department for Education’s Sure Start children’s centres statutory guidance says that health services and local authorities should share information (such as live birth data and data on families with children under five who have recently moved into the area) with children’s centres on a regular basis.

The Department of Health is working with NHS England and partners, including the Health and Social Care Information Centre, to explore the practical issues involved in providing regular and timely updates of live birth data to local authorities.