A Tyneside MP is calling for the Government to reform a support scheme for families so that pregnant women and young families are receive vital vouchers for food and baby essentials automatically.
South Shields MP Emma Lewell Buck said that as it stands the Healthy Start Scheme is "beset with problems" - and that thousands who are eligible do not claim what they are entitled to. Introducing her bill in the House of Commons, she said there was £53m that had been unclaimed and that she had heard of "desperate mothers [who] are seeking abortions because they simply do not know how they will feed their babies".
The Healthy Start Scheme provides pregnant women and young families in receipt of certain benefits with a prepaid card offering between £4.25 and £8.50 each week - up to £34 each month - to spend on groceries. However, this has to be applied for, and Ms Lewell-Buck warned people had told her of giving up after failing to use an "overly complex and varied" application system.
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She said her reforms would provide "a simple, cost-neutral solution so that no baby or infant goes without". Introducing the bill, Ms Lewell-Buck said: “I am sure that across this House, we can all agree that every single child deserves the best start in life and that when it comes to those very early years, a nutritious diet is essential for growth and development.
“And that is why the last Labour government introduced the Healthy Start scheme. It provides financial assistance in the form of a prepaid card to those pregnant under 18 and family with young children claiming certain benefits to help with the ever-increasing cost of fruit, vegetables, formula, milk, and vitamins.
"The scheme is available in pregnancy and until a child’s 4th birthday. Yet the scheme is beset with problems, problems caused by this Government that can be easily fixed by this Government."
Ms Lewell-Buck co-chairs the all-party parliamentary group on the child of the north and cited rocketing inflation, high food prices and rising food bank use as drivers of child poverty - she added: "It is highly unlikely therefore that that £53 million is unclaimed because people do not need it."
She also said the APPG had heard in evidence that: "Children in the north are more likely to die before reaching their first birthday. Desperate mothers are seeking abortions because they simply do not know how they will feed their babies. It has been widely reported that some parents have, in desperation, resorted to theft of baby milk and formula, or are watering it down.
"The fact that that is happening in a country as rich as ours should not only shame those on the Government Benches, but spur them into action to help those in need."
The Labour MP said Healthy Start take-up is low, noting the Government’s 75% target has only been achieved in two out of the 553 constituencies, adding: "Sustain have estimated that this amounts to approximately 200,000 babies, infants and pregnant women missing out, leaving £53 million unclaimed."
In the North East, the research suggests families are missing out on more than £3m in support. Ms Lewell-Buck added: "All I’m asking is that the Government changes the system to one of opting out rather than opting in. Automatic enrolment is possible. The Government know who is eligible and they claim they have the funds.
"Automatic enrolment would increase take up, ensuring the millions sat in the treasury allocated to these mothers and babies is exactly where it should be.”
Ms Lewell-Buck asked for her Bill to be considered further on November 24, although it is unlikely to make progress in its current form due to a lack of parliamentary time to consider proposed laws from backbench MPs.
The Government maintains it has made inroads in lifting people out of "absolute poverty" and a spokesperson said: "We have helped nearly two million people, including 400,000 children, out of absolute poverty since 2010 and have launched a £94billion cost of living support package worth around £3,300 per household.
"In 2021/22, children living in workless households were around five times more likely to be in absolute poverty than those where all adults work, which is why we are boosting our childcare offer to help more parents return to work and keep more of their earnings."
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