Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to local authorities to expand family hubs in areas with limited public transport access.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life. Delivering this will require strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood. This includes continuing to invest in and build up the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

75 local authorities with some of the highest levels of deprivation have received funding and a further £12 million has supported Family Hubs in 13 additional local authorities through the Family Hubs Transformation Fund. There are now more than 500 Family Hubs across the 88 funded local authorities.

In the 2025/26 financial year, the government is providing £126 million to give every child the best start in life and deliver on the Plan for Change. More information on this funding can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/families-to-receive-126-million-in-early-years-support. Future funding decisions are subject to the multi-year spending review.

The evidence and learning from this investment will help to improve services across England where they are most needed.