Context
The MP noted that only half of upper-tier local authorities receive prioritised Start for Life and family hub funding, with South Cambridgeshire being one of the areas without dedicated funding despite significant efforts by officers to provide support.
Question
We know how important the best start in life is for opportunities for all. Only half upper-tier local authorities currently receive prioritised Start for Life and family hub funding—78 do not. In South Cambridgeshire, officers are doing huge work to provide support and signposting without dedicated funding, which means that babies, young parents and young families do not receive the full benefits. Will the Minister commit, in the next spending review, to extending these services across the whole of England?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Andrew Gwynne)
Local authorities were pre-selected using the income deprivation affecting children index average rank scores, with a rural and urban weighting applied. Tackling child inequalities in health and outcomes is crucial. As resources allow, it is the ambition of the Government to ensure that Start for Life services reach every child.
Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific commitment regarding extending Start for Life services across all of England during the next spending review.
How: As Resources Allow
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