Baby Box Extension to Formula Bill

A

B I L L

T O

extend the provisions of the Baby Box Act (2022) to include baby formula for new parents.

BE IT ENACTED by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1 - To Include Baby Formula in the Baby Boxes

1. Add to Section 2(1) of the Baby Boxes Act 2022 to read:

(c) The care packages shall also consist of supply of Baby Formula, equivalent to the regular consumption of such formula by a Baby for a period of twelve months, of any brand as determined appropriate by the Secretary of State

Section 2 - Short title, commencement, and extent

1. This Act may be cited as the Baby Box (Formula Extension) Act 2023

2. This Act will come into force upon receiving Royal Assent

3. This Act extends to England

This Bill was written by u/lamBeg12, Shadow Secretary for Family Affairs, Youth, and Equalities on behalf of the Official Opposition.

Opening Speech

Speaker,

When the Baby Box bill was first enacted, the parties now in government left a glaring oversight - the provision of baby formula to all recipients. While not every parent intends to use formula at the outset, babies have a way of making decisions for their parents sometimes, and formula may ultimately become a necessity even for people who do not expect it. In the face of skyrocketing baby formula costs, to the point that the WHO has asked the government to take action against price gouging, the fact that formula was not included at the outset is egregious. While surely there will be critics who argue the inclusion of baby formula in baby boxes will be construed to be the Government attempting to endorse formula feeding over other options, let me be the first to cut that argument off right now. If the Government is serious about providing for everyone, then they must truly provide for everyone. Not everyone is able to breastfeed for a variety of reasons. When it comes to infant feeding and nutrition we believe that everyone should have the full range of options available to them to see what works best for their baby and their family. At the end of the day, fed is best.

This division will end on Friday 2nd February at 10pm GMT.