Our evidence to the first 1000 days inquiry
7 May 2025
Dame Andrea Leadsom gave evidence as part of the UK Government’s Health Select Committee inquiry into the first 1001 days.
“Humans are unique in the animal kingdom in the extent of their under development at birth. There is no other animal that can’t fend for itself at all until it is a year old… that means that humans are uniquely susceptible to their environment in the 1001 critical days.”
Through her evidence, Dame Andrea highlighted the importance of ensuring that the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme was rolled out across every local authority in England and that creating a digital ‘Red Book’ would make a meaningful difference to babies and their families.
