Government Response to the Committee's Third report

This is the government's response, published 16 December 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's report and says it shares its view that disparities for Black women and babies are unacceptable, agreeing with several recommendations while pointing to existing programmes and an independent investigation.

• On mandatory cultural competency training, the government recognises it as "a critical skill" but says the training "is not mandated"; trusts are "expected to cover the training" from the core competency framework topics.
• The government agrees on diversifying NHS leadership, and says the Perinatal Equity and Anti-Discrimination Programme, which all trusts are "expected to complete by 2027", will support this.
• On the investigation, the government says it "strongly agrees" that progress has been too slow, and that the final report and recommendations of the Baroness Amos investigation will be published in spring 2026.
• On funding, the government says "Maternity funding has not been cut" and the ring-fence was removed to give local leaders more autonomy, so it does not restore the ring-fenced £95 million; it says it "will continue to monitor ICB investment".

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