Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Monday 7th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson]

We will ensure that voluntary and community groups have an important role to play in our family hubs. I am grateful for everything my hon. Friend does to champion Harlow and his community. Harlow will now benefit from the extra investment that I am announcing today through the “best start in life” strategy. It is through his election to this place and a Labour Government that his constituents will once more see the services they need and deserve.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Secretary of State for her statement, which contains really good news. I very much welcome the report she has released, which states:

“Postcodes shouldn’t dictate the support available, but one in four families with children under five cannot access local children’s centres or Family Hubs, rising to one in three lower income families.”

Today, the Secretary of State has ensured that more children and parents will be able to access opportunity—truly good news. She will be aware that children in Northern Ireland live in greater poverty than those in most postcodes here. I know, personally, that she has a deep interest in Northern Ireland, although she does not have responsibility for it. I appreciate that and I welcome the conversations she has had with me and with other Members of Parliament from Northern Ireland. What discussions will she have with the Education Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly to ensure that children in Northern Ireland postcodes have access to these types of hubs? Will additional Barnett consequentials funding be available for rural areas, which are so isolated?

[Bridget Phillipson]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I was in Northern Ireland at the end of last year, during which time I was able, as part of my work co-chairing the child poverty taskforce, to meet many charities, campaigners and parents about what they wanted to see through that work. That was important to hear, because the responsibilities that we carry through the child poverty taskforce are UK-wide. That was also a welcome opportunity for all UK Education Ministers to come together, including his colleagues in Northern Ireland. We continue to work with our colleagues right across the UK as part of that important work.