Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life

Maya Ellis Excerpts

Monday 7th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson]

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the important link between education and health, particularly given his expertise. That link is why I was proud that we announced a big expansion to free school meals to make sure that more of our children get a nutritious meal during the day. It is why the Health Secretary is working to tackle tooth decay, which is one of the biggest reasons for hospitalisation of our children. It is also why we are taking action through this strategy to improve access to vaccination and health visiting support and to ensure that all of our children have a healthy life. As my hon. Friend says, those problems are profound and need to be tackled.

[Maya Ellis (Ribble Valley) (Lab)]

As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on babies, the most common refrain I hear is, “Bring back Sure Start.” I commend my right hon. Friend on focusing on learning from the past and looking to the future, and I thank her for showing the best of the Labour party by starting to restore the Sure Start legacy. Many of my constituents and service providers in Ribble Valley tell me that the hardest thing about being a parent or supporting parents is a lack of consistent information and places to go for support. Does the Secretary of State agree that it has been deeply confusing over the past few years for those living in the 65 local authorities where crucial services and family hubs have not been funded, and will the Labour Government end that injustice?

[Bridget Phillipson]

Through the measures announced today, my hon. Friend’s local authority will now benefit from funding to make that a reality. She is right to say that even when services are available, it can be confusing for parents to know where to go to access high-quality, trusted advice. The digital offer we are developing with NHS colleagues will ensure that all parents, regardless of where they are or what their family circumstances are, can access good-quality information alongside that.