Explainers
Best Start Foods
Best Start Foods (BSF) provides payments towards the cost of being pregnant or looking after young children. Money is pre-loaded on to a payment card every four weeks and can be used to purchase food from a range of retailers. It was launched in 2019 and has replaced the UK Government’s Healthy Start Vouchers.
Spending is forecast to rise over 2023-24 and 2024-25 because the Scottish Government plans to expand eligibility by removing the current income thresholds during 2023-24.
| £ million | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Spending in 2020-21 includes a small amount on Healthy Start Vouchers