Health Education: Low Incomes

(asked on 15th June 2015) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to provide additional information on (a) local food skills training, (b) eating well on a budget and (c) other topics to parents on low incomes when they receive Healthy Start vouchers.


Answered by
 Portrait
Jane Ellison
This question was answered on 22nd June 2015

Healthy Start recipients already receive a range of specific advice when claiming. Healthy Start applications must be signed by a registered health professional by law, including providing confirmation that they have given health related advice to the applicant. When the claimant is sent their first set of vouchers the Department provides a simple user guide to Healthy Start beneficiaries, this includes useful contacts for information and advice, including Start4Life which provides support during pregnancy, birth and parenthood. The Healthy Start website has tips for healthy eating, getting the most from Healthy Start items, and quick and easy recipes using milk, fruit and vegetables. The Department does not provide more detailed information on local food skills training, as provision of support to parents on low incomes is part of the public health responsibilities of Local Authorities, working with the National Health Service and other local partners. Health professionals are ideally placed to talk to women about local services and how to access them, and offer encouragement, information and advice on issues such as healthy eating, breastfeeding and vitamins.

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