CABINET MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Early day motion 2411, tabled 21 May 2019 by Lord McCabe (Labour). Signed by 27 members.

That this House welcomes the publication of the White Paper on Online Harms; recognises that the early years represent a window of opportunity during which children can be prepared for a healthy life course; notes British Heart Foundation findings that among children aged two to four only 9 per cent of boys and 10 per cent of girls are achieving their physical activity recommendations in England; recognises that play has a fundamental role in early childhood education and that there is no national play strategy from early years upwards; further recognises that nutrition in the early years lays the foundation of healthy eating and that areas with the highest level of income deprivation have a child obesity prevalence almost double that of areas with the lowest level; notes that the national obesity strategy should be accompanied by a sustained, flexible and fully funded programme of support for parents and carers of young children; contends that such problems are not capable of resolution via a single bullet approach; and calls upon the Prime Minister to appoint a Cabinet Minister for Children and Young People to drive policy and promote a system of inter-departmental working.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Labour/Co-operative 4, Scottish National Party 4, Conservative 2, DUP 1, Liberal Democrat 1.