The value of the Healthy Start scheme should be increased by 20% to compensate for food inflation, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
The value of the scheme, which helps eligible pregnant women or families with children under the age of four with the cost of food and milk, was last reviewed in 2020.
LGA analysis found that the support for families with a baby under the age of one does not meet the average price of any available first infant formula milk.
The association called on the Government to use the Autumn Statement to uplift the value of Healthy Start in line with current inflation and commit to reviewing the value of the scheme every six months.
The chairman of the LGA's community wellbeing board, David Fothergill, said: ‘This is an essential way of ensuring the neediest babies, children and pregnant people get the nutrients they need.’
