Member

179: After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause— “English local authorities: duties relating to Start for Life offer(1) An English local authority must publish a Start for Life offer for its area on its website under the heading “Start for Life”.(2) A “Start for Life offer” for an English local authority’s area is information about the following services that the authority is aware are available in its area for infants, parents, or carers of infants—(a) health visiting services provided by or on behalf of a public authority;(b) services promoting positive relationships between infants and their parents or carers provided by or on behalf of a public authority;(c) breastfeeding and other infant feeding services provided by or on behalf of a public authority;(d) mental health services provided by or on behalf of a public authority;(e) such other kinds of services that are—(i) likely to support infants, parents, or carers of infants, and(ii) provided by or on behalf of a public authority, as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations made by statutory instrument;(f) such services that are likely to support infants, parents, or carers of infants being—(i) services of a kind mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) provided other than by or on behalf of a public authority, or(ii) other services, whether or not provided by or on behalf of a public authority, as the local authority considers it appropriate to include information about in the Start for Life offer for its area. (4) An English local authority must also—(a) publish a Start for Life offer for its area by any other means it considers appropriate,(b) take such steps as it considers appropriate to bring the Start for Life offer to the attention of parents and carers of infants in its area, and(c) take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that the Start for Life offer is kept up to date.(5) An English local authority must have regard to guidance published by the Secretary of State under section (Guidance) when complying with its duties under this section.(6) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (2)(e) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.”Member’s explanatory statement This and the following four clauses require local authorities to make information available about support for infants, parents and carers of infants and include reporting requirements relating to such support, to help ensure children’s safety and well-being in the critical first two years of life.