Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will introduce a children and young people's health strategy to link policies that affect child health and to tackle the social determinants of health outcomes.

The Department welcomes the contribution provided by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), which has highlighted a number of challenges that must be addressed. We are pleased with the progress noted by the RCPCH in the most recent assessment, particularly on the NHS Long Term Plan including its focus on maternity, support for mental health, learning disabilities and cancer.

There are no current plans to introduce a separate children and young people’s health strategy as suggested by the RCPCH and other bodies. Our Prevention Vision is clear on the importance of action in our earliest experiences, the environment around us and from the services we receive. We are focussed on tackling the root causes of poor health, not just treating the symptoms and will continue to lead a range of policies to influence the wider issues that impact on child health.