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Healthy Start — [Peter Dowd in the Chair]
22 May 2024
Lead MP
Emma Lewell
South Shields
Lab
Responding Minister
Helen Whately
Tags
Northern Ireland
Word Count: 7083
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Emma Lewell raised concerns about healthy start — [peter dowd in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
I ask the Government to implement an opt-out system instead of the current opt-in approach to ensure proper data collection and free up resources for supporting families. I also request accurate take-up data and a commitment to working on piloting auto-enrolment.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the problems besetting the Healthy Start scheme, including low take-up rates at just 62.5% across England, Wales and Northern Ireland compared to Scotland's 92%. Desperate parents are resorting to theft or watering down baby formula due to high costs. Despite this need, awareness of the scheme is low among both public and professionals, leading to missed opportunities for families in financial distress.
Andrew Western
Lab
Stretford and Urmston
Mr Andrew Western highlighted the importance of the Healthy Start allowance for families in poverty, noting a significant increase in food prices, especially milk formula, since 2021. He expressed concern over the decrease in uptake due to an opaque system and lack of awareness among eligible families. The MP shared local statistics from his constituency showing one child in five lives in poverty, with an 80% increase in families supported by a local food bank within the past year.
Preet Kaur Gill
Lab Co-op
Birmingham Edgbaston
The scheme provides support to expectant mothers and families with young children, but recent data shows that uptake rates are not meeting the target of 75%. The value of food vouchers has remained unchanged since 2021 despite rising costs. Poor nutrition during pregnancy can lead to adverse health outcomes for both mother and child. Labour calls on the Government to urgently address these issues.
Sarah Dyke
Lib Dem
Glastonbury and Somerton
The scheme provides pregnant women or pre-school-age children from low-income households with a weekly payment for healthy food but has failed to meet its 75% uptake target by March 2023. The speaker highlighted that only 62% have taken it up and expressed concerns about the neglect of the scheme amidst rising food prices, impacting families' ability to afford nutritious foods.
Sharon Hodgson
Lab
Washington and Gateshead South
Apologises for missing the start of the debate but agrees that proper information about the Healthy Start scheme is needed, including auto-enrolment to cut through red tape. Suggests the Government must do more to promote the scheme so families are aware of it. Discussed the importance of early years nutrition in preventing type 2 diabetes, citing an event by Diabetes UK highlighting the rise in prevalence among young people.
Government Response
Helen Whately
Government Response
The Government is committed to promoting a healthy diet for children through the Healthy Start scheme. The value of Healthy Start was increased by 37% in April 2021 from £3.10 to £4.25 a week. Since September 2021, over 600,000 successful applications have been made with 45% coming from new families and the scheme now supports more than 360,000 beneficiaries on lower incomes. The uptake is 62% of people who are eligible, which shows the benefits of transitioning to a digital scheme. The Government will look into the suggestion for auto-enrolment and continue to focus on increasing take-up and effectiveness of the existing scheme.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.