Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of regional inequalities in child health.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) leads a range of universal public health interventions and guidance for ages zero to 19 that provide universal support and identify and respond to further needs and safeguarding concerns. We also deliver programmes specifically targeted at particular populations, including the Family Nurse Partnership to support vulnerable young mothers; the Healthy Start scheme to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four from low-income households; and Mental Health Support Teams in schools.

The Government is investing around £300 million over three years to improve support for families though the joint DHSC and Department for Education Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. Launched in August 2022, the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is delivering a step change in outcomes for babies, children and their parents and carers in 75 local authorities in England with high levels of deprivation.

In addition, we measure child health outcomes at the regional level through regular surveillance programmes.