Mr. Norris emphasised the importance of early intervention in healthcare, citing its impact on brain development and the lifelong benefits for individuals and society. He highlighted the financial returns from well-implemented preventative services, noting a social return on investment between £2 and £9 for every £1 invested.

Breastfeeding support services have been neglected and underfunded, leading to a postcode lottery for women and babies in need. The National Breastfeeding Helpline saw 124% more calls between April and September compared to the previous year due to increased demand during lockdown. Ms Thewliss intervened, expressing concern about the Best Start Foods grant in England being insufficient for families who cannot afford essentials like infant formula during winter. She suggested increasing the payment immediately.

Ms Mackrory focused on the importance of continuity of carer in healthcare support, highlighting its benefits such as reducing baby loss by 16% and pre-term birth. She advocated for extending this approach to all families and integrating it into health visitor services.

Discussed the Scottish Government's investments in perinatal and infant mental health services, highlighting £50 million investment overseen by a programme board. He mentioned initiatives such as Best Start grants, baby boxes, nursery payments, and the Scottish child payment aimed at reducing child poverty.

Ms Fiona Bruce commended her colleague for securing the debate and highlighted the importance of family hubs in providing early childhood support. She cited a report from the Early Intervention Foundation, which supports holistic approaches to delivering local family services. She emphasized the need for community infrastructure that allows families to access support easily during challenging times such as the pandemic. Ms Bruce mentioned specific examples like perinatal mental health teams and JobCentre advisors being co-located within the service. The Minister is making an important point about the undervaluation of parenthood and ensuring children have a good start in life. She also asks if the Minister recognises the need for a dedicated Minister for families at Cabinet level to coordinate efforts across different Government Departments.

Jim Shannon highlighted the importance of prenatal and early childhood support, emphasizing that mothers make significant changes before a baby arrives to ensure its wellbeing. He mentioned over 100,000 babies admitted annually to neonatal intensive care in the UK, with an average of 1,267 neonatal deaths each year requiring palliative care. Shannon praised initiatives like the NHS England children's hospice grant and the WAVE Trust's 70/30 Campaign aimed at reducing child maltreatment. The Minister is thanked for her response and Jim Shannon highlights the importance of church and community groups in providing support, particularly through mother and tots provision. He acknowledges their contribution to both those of faith and no faith.

Emphasised the importance of healthcare support services for children from conception to age two, highlighting the significant economic cost of neglecting this critical period. Cited statistics on mental health issues, domestic violence, child obesity rates, and vaccination coverage during pregnancy and early childhood. Raised concerns about the reduction in face-to-face contact due to the pandemic and the overburdened state of health visitors.