Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Alcohol-dependent Parents: Support for Children

Tuesday 23 January 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK government is investing 27 million in specialist alcohol care teams and has published UK-wide clinical guidelines on harmful drinking.
  • The government has committed an extra 532 million over three years for alcohol and drug treatment services through the drugs strategy.
  • The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is investing in family hubs to provide wrap-around support for families, including alcohol support services.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sara Britcliffe
Children & Families
Context

The question arises from the need to support children affected by parental alcohol dependency, an issue that impacts their wellbeing and development.

Question

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the children of alcohol-dependent parents?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

We are investing £27 million in specialist alcohol care teams and have published UK-wide clinical guidelines on harmful drinking. We provide around £300 million in funding through family hubs and Start for Life programme, encouraging wrap-around support for families including alcohol support services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to address the needs of children of alcohol-dependent parents were not detailed.

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Q2 Sara Britcliffe
NHS
Context

The absence of a national strategy to address the needs of children whose parents are dependent on alcohol has been highlighted, with previous initiatives in place between 2017 and 2021.

Question

To the Government's credit, they are currently putting money into addiction services. However, at the same time, there is no national strategy for children of alcohol-dependent parents. That has not always been the case. Between 2017 and 2021, there were local and national helpline services funded through a national strategy. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss this matter, as the children in these awful situations are some of the most vulnerable in society?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

Through the drugs strategy, we have committed an extra £532 million over three years for alcohol and drug treatment services. We also invested £15.7 million in Lancashire. I will be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this matter further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific national strategy addressing children of alcohol-dependent parents was not committed to.

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
NHS Children & Families
Context

The issue of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its impact on a child's life is highlighted, with a call to use social media and schools to spread awareness.

Question

I have turned over a new leaf, Mr Speaker. May I urge the Secretary of State to take this issue very seriously, to direct much more social media at young people and to get into schools the message about the real damage that can be done to the entire life of a child if the mother is drinking alcohol during pregnancy?

Answer from Victoria Atkins

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Dame Andrea Leadsom), is investing in family hubs to be the centre for families to make a child's life start well.

Not addressed: The specific ask about social media and schools was not addressed, instead focusing on family hubs.

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