Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 31 March 2026.
James McMurdock
Independent, South Basildon and East Thurrock
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 109953, what steps he is taking to introduce policies aimed at supporting parents such as a) affordability of healthy food and b) awareness of the impacts of unhealthy food.
James McMurdock
Independent, South Basildon and East Thurrock
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 109953, what steps he is taking to support parents where food choices are primarily determined by cost and convenience rather than exposure to marketing.
Sharon Hodgson
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care
The Healthy Start Scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. In April 2026, the value of the weekly payments will increase by 10%. Pregnant women and children aged over one and under four years old will each receive £4.65 per week, up from £4.25 and children under one years old will each receive £9.30 per week, up from £8.50.
Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide. The Eatwell Guide is a visual representation of the types and proportions of foods needed for a healthy balanced diet, and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide
Government advice on healthy eating, including the Eatwell Guide principles, are communicated through the NHS.UK website and the Government’s social marketing campaigns, which includes Better Health Healthier Families, and Start for Life aimed at families to help make healthier choices
The Family hub service expectations 2025-26 outlines that family hubs staff should be able to talk with families about healthy weight in an informed and sensitive way, signpost healthy eating guidance, for example, the Eatwell Guide and five-a-day, and connect children and their parents/carers to local or national weight management services where appropriate. Further information is available at the following link:
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
