Families would automatically get Healthy Start food vouchers under new law

13 June 2023 , 23:01

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Pregnant women and parents with children under four on low incomes can get between £4.25 and £8.50 a week to spend on healthy goods such as fruit, vegetables and dairy milk infant formula (Image: Getty Images)

Struggling families would be automatically signed up for healthy food vouchers under a new Bill brought to Parliament today.

Labour MP Emma Lewell-Buck wants to change the law so those eligible for the Healthy Start scheme are automatically signed up to stop them missing out.

Pregnant women and parents with children under four on low incomes can get between £4.25 and £8.50 a week to spend on healthy goods such as fruit, vegetables and dairy milk infant formula.

But a recent switch to a digital system has caused issues, with take-up affected by poor communication and bureaucracy.

Around 200,000 people eligible for the scheme that offers a prepaid card for milk, baby formula, fruit and vegetables are currently missing out, according to food charity Sustain.

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Separate analysis by the Food Foundation today found only two of the 533 constituencies in England have hit the 75% uptake target set by the Government.

These are Hartlepool (79.2%) and Great Grimsby (75%).

Labour MP Emma Lewell Buck wants to change the law to improve take up of Healthy Start vouchers (DAILY MIRROR)

It comes as spiralling food costs push families to the brink, with 27% of households with a child under four years old experiencing food insecurity.

Ms Lewell-Buck, the MP for South Shields, told the Mirror: "The Tory led cost of living crisis is pushing families to the edge, with food inflation reaching a record high, we are seeing devastating levels of child poverty.

"For pregnant women and those with children under the age of four, the NHS Healthy Start Scheme is a vital lifeline to help with the costs of formula, fruit, vegetables and milk - all of the essentials needed for early years development and growth."

She added: "Hundreds of thousands of families are missing out because of how the scheme is designed.

Families are facing spiralling grocery costs (Getty Images)

"My Bill will widen uptake through auto-enrolment ensuring that every child has the best possible start in life, and none are slipping through the cracks."

The Bill, which has cross-party support, proposes that eligible families are auto-enrolled in the scheme (with an opt-out available to ensure that all eligible children and pregnant women can easily access the scheme.

Andrew Forsey, National Director of Feeding Britain said: “Healthy Start is a terrific scheme. It relieves pressure on family budgets and makes healthier food items more affordable.

"Emma’s Bill would make the scheme an even better one by ensuring it reaches every child who qualifies for Healthy Start.

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"Right now, at a time when food prices are so high, there are hundreds of thousands of children missing out on this much needed support.

"If it were to accept Emma’s Bill, thereby maximising take up, the Government would at a stroke be making a huge difference to the living standards of so many families on low incomes."

The legislation will be introduced to Parliament today but it is unlikely to become law without Government support.

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Lizzy Buchan