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Infants, Parents and Carers Bill 2026-27

On 17 June 2026, Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative) presented the Infants, Parents and Carers Bill 2026-27 to Parliament, having been drawn highest in the private members’ bill ballot for the 2026/27 session.

The bill would require the government to assess the need for infant support services in England and work to ensure an appropriate level of provision. The government would also be required to report annually to parliament on the extent and effectiveness of infant support services.

The bill’s second reading is scheduled for Friday 4 September 2026.

Provision of early childhood services

Local authorities in England have duties to “improve the well-being of young children in their area” and ensure that early childhood services are provided in an integrated manner. This may be done through children’s centres or through family hubs, which also provide support for families with older children.

Parents are also entitled to five statutory health and development reviews during the first two and a half years of their child’s life, delivered by health visitors or another suitable professional.

Giving every child the best start in life strategy

In July 2025, the government committed to providing £500 million from 2026 to 2029 to “rebuild crucial family services, under a ‘Best Start’ umbrella”. Under the plans, Best Start Family Hubs will be created in every local authority area in England from April 2026. Up to 1,000 hubs will be created by 2028, along with 2,000 network sites (other settings that provide at least one Best Start Family Hub service on a regular basis).

Hubs will be based in disadvantaged communities and are intended to “act as a one stop shop for parents seeking a range of support”, including parenting support, preventative and universal health services for babies, and support for children with additional needs. They will be open to all families but will prioritise support for families with babies and young children.

75 local authorities that previously received funding through the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme will receive additional Healthy Babies funding to continue to provide “enhanced support for babies and families in their areas”.

Stakeholders have broadly welcomed the plans to develop a network of Best Start Family Hubs. However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has cautioned that this is “not – yet – a new Sure Start”, and spending on integrated early years services will be less than a third of the amount that was spent on Sure Start at its peak.

The government has said the strategy aims to build on the best of the previous Sure Start, Family Hubs and Start for Life approaches (section 1.5 of the briefing provides more information on these programmes).

The bill

The bill places several duties on the Secretary of State relating to the provision of infant support services. This includes duties to:

• Publish regulations specifying “infant support services” and the functions of the Secretary of State that they consider relevant to the provision of those services. This could include services relating to pregnancy and childbirth, the health and development needs of infants (children aged under two), and the relationship between infants and their parents or carers (clause 1).
• Assess the expected level of need for infant support services. The Secretary of State would have to take into account the views of parents and carers when making this assessment (clause 2).
• Exercise the functions specified under clause 1 with a view to ensuring an appropriate level of provision of infant support services (cluse 3).
• Report to parliament annually on the extent and effectiveness of infant support services (clause 4).

Comment and reaction

Sir Desmond Swayne has said the bill is not intended to create a new system but strengthen what already exists by placing it on a stronger legal foundation.

A number of stakeholders are supportive of the bill, including the National Children’s Bureau and the Institute of Health Visiting.

The 1,001 Critical Days Foundation, which was founded by Dame Andrea Leadsom, is also supporting the bill and has launched a campaign urging MPs, charities and the public to support it.