Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 April 2026
Correspondence from Minister Hodgson - First 1000 Days Response
From: Health and Social Care Committee
Inquiry: The First 1000 Days: a renewed focus
Summary
Minister Sharon Hodgson responds to the Health and Social Care Committee's inquiry into early childhood development ('The First 1000 Days'). She acknowledges the committee's concerns on vaccination uptake and health visiting services, commits to building on existing government work, and offers further engagement with the committee on this priority area.
Key findings
- Minister acknowledges committee concerns specifically on vaccination uptake and health visiting service strengthening
- Government has considered committee recommendations and set out its position in a separate response document
- Minister highlights existing government work across departments addressing the inquiry's identified challenges
- Early years support remains a stated priority for the minister, who has previously chaired the 2021 Early Years Commission
- Minister offers to meet the committee for further discussion on implementation and progress
Tone
SupportiveTopics
early-years-developmentpublic-healthvaccinationhealth-visiting
Key actors
Sharon Hodgson MP, Layla Moran MP, Health and Social Care Committee, Department of Health and Social Care, 1001 Critical Days Foundation
Notable line
“… early years remains one of my top priorities. My appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department of Health and Social …”
Key Quotes
“I fully acknowledge the concerns you have raised, particularly regarding vaccination uptake and the strengthening of health visiting services, which are in my own brief, and agree that we must do more to improve outcomes for babies and children.”
“… early years remains one of my top priorities.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗