§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the results of his consultation on the Healthy Start proposals; whether the Healthy Start Scheme will maintain the value of benefit to mothers who choose to bottle-feed their babies; and how many mothers and children he estimates will be eligible for the Healthy Start Scheme in each of the next five years. [91074]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department intends to publish a summary of healthy start consultation responses in spring 2003.
The numbers of mothers and children eligible for the welfare food scheme will continue to be determined by the number of families which are in receipt of qualifying income-based benefits, and the numbers of children who receive day care from eligible providers.
Decisions about the proposed reformed scheme will not be taken until the results of the consultation have been fully assessed.