Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about the potential merits of facilitating the universal provision of Family Hubs across the UK.

I refer the hon. Member for Slough to the answer given on 19 June 2023 to Question 188780.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care meet in regular cross-government discussions and are committed to working together. The Department for Education works with the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver the joint £300 million Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, which enables 75 local authorities in England to create family hubs, and to improve vital services to give every baby the best start in life. This builds on the government’s previous investment to champion family hubs, including a £12 million transformation fund to open family hubs in a further 12 local authorities in England.

Regarding family hub provision across the UK, education and health are devolved matters. It would therefore be for the devolved governments to decide on the provision of family hubs in their local areas.