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Healthy Start Scheme: Costs

Asked by Sarah RussellLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 22 May 2025UIN 52530

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the annual cost to the public purse of the Healthy Start scheme; and what proportion of this cost is attributed to (a) administration and (b) payments to families.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

Healthy Start is a demand led scheme, and therefore, the cost of the scheme differs from year to year. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) delivers the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. In the financial year 2023/24, the cost to the public purse for the NHSBSA to administer the scheme was £9,620,000.

In the same financial year, the cost to the public purse for payments made to families in receipt of Healthy Start was £86,382,173.

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