Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to deliver a health in all policies approach to decision-making throughout Government that affect children’s health; and whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential benefits of developing a cross-Government Children and Young People’s Health Strategy to achieve that approach.

All children and young people deserve the best start in life and cross-Government action is essential to achieve this. The Government is already implementing a wide range of policies across departments to that end including an ambitious childhood obesity plan, the transformation of children’s mental health and maternity services. In addition, work will reduce the vulnerabilities that children can face from parental conflict, alcohol dependent parents and poor perinatal mental health. The Government is also in the process of developing a Prevention Green Paper due for publication later this year.