Pregnant women get £120 for good food

Health Secretary Alan Johnson will announce the plan for a "Health in Pregnancy Grant" in a speech this week outlining plans to reduce health inequalities between the richest and poorest in England and Wales.

The cash will be given to all mothers to be seven months into their pregnancy, accompanied by professional health advice on maintaining a balanced diet. Women will be encouraged to spend the money on fruit and vegetables.

But they are expected to be free to spend the cash as they see fit, even on unhealthy products like cigarettes and alcohol.

If every mother receives £120, The Observer estimated the initiative would cost £70-£80 million a year.

The Department of Health spokesman said: "It is something that would be put in place in conjunction with health professionals who already visit pregnant women with healthy diet advice."

A report from former government NHS adviser Sir Derek Wanless is this week expected to call for action to change unhealthy lifestyles in order to reverse Britain's growing obesity problem.

What do you think of the planned grants? Join the debate

Mr Johnson is expected to say on Thursday that almost one in 12 babies in England and Wales are born underweight, sometimes because their growth in the womb has been retarded by a lack of nutrients.

This not only increases the danger of dying in infancy, but puts them at greater risk of long-term heart problems, diabetes, lung conditions and cognitive disorders.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "It is vital to improve public health but it can't be done with one-off gimmicks. This proposal does not appear to result from evaluation of any pilot scheme.

"What we need is the kind of evidence-based strategy which David Cameron and I put forward earlier this year.

"This Labour Government has presided over growing health inequalities.

"For the Government now to be talking about enhanced interventions with mothers in deprived areas is deeply hypocritical when the number of midwives hasn't kept pace with the increase in births over the last five years.

"A vital first step is to boost community midwife teams who can ensure that mothers get the right advice, screening and support from the first point at which they book in. Anything else must come after that."