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1125713

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) number of and (b) reasons for children being taken into care.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	252568
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>Information on the number of children who started to be looked after during the year by reason is published in Table C1 in the statistical release ‘Children Looked After in England including Adoption’ at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018</a>. Information for children taken into care is shown in the attached tabled.</p><p>The government wants every child to be in a stable, loving home that is right for them. One of the key principles of the legislation which underpins the UK’s child protection system, is that children are best looked after within their families. However, that is not always possible and, as a last resort, local authorities can apply to the courts for a care or supervision order where the child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm. In making their decisions, the courts must be satisfied that the threshold for significant harm has been met and that taking the child from his or her family’s care will be in the child’s best interests.</p><p> </p><p>Where a child cannot live at home, we must make sure they are safe and receive the highest quality care, which is why we are working hard to improve the social care support for children across England through our reform programme, Putting Children First. We have also established the Children’s Social Care What Works Centre, whose initial research priority focuses on ‘what works in safely reducing the need for children to enter care’.</p><p> </p><p>In the Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £410 million for adult and children’s social care in 2019-20. A further £84 million is also being invested over the next 5 years through the Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme. This programme will support up to 20 local authorities with high or rising demand for children’s social care services to improve the support offered to vulnerable children and their families. Through this, we aim to enable more children to stay at home thriving in stable family environments, and safely reduce the number of children entering care.</p><p> </p><p>Across the government, we are also tackling the problems that cause children to be in need in the first place. This includes better supporting those with alcohol-dependent parents, the introduction of landmark legislation for those affected by domestic abuse, preventing young people being drawn into serious violence, and unprecedented investment in early years education and support for children and young people’s mental health.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 252574 question first answered 14/05/2019 15:46:32 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi attachment 1 file name 252568_252574_Children_In_Care_Table.doc title 252568_252574_Table
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1125743

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to reduce the number of children being taken into care; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures implemented by his Department to support that aim.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	252574
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>Information on the number of children who started to be looked after during the year by reason is published in Table C1 in the statistical release ‘Children Looked After in England including Adoption’ at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2017-to-2018</a>. Information for children taken into care is shown in the attached tabled.</p><p>The government wants every child to be in a stable, loving home that is right for them. One of the key principles of the legislation which underpins the UK’s child protection system, is that children are best looked after within their families. However, that is not always possible and, as a last resort, local authorities can apply to the courts for a care or supervision order where the child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm. In making their decisions, the courts must be satisfied that the threshold for significant harm has been met and that taking the child from his or her family’s care will be in the child’s best interests.</p><p> </p><p>Where a child cannot live at home, we must make sure they are safe and receive the highest quality care, which is why we are working hard to improve the social care support for children across England through our reform programme, Putting Children First. We have also established the Children’s Social Care What Works Centre, whose initial research priority focuses on ‘what works in safely reducing the need for children to enter care’.</p><p> </p><p>In the Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £410 million for adult and children’s social care in 2019-20. A further £84 million is also being invested over the next 5 years through the Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme. This programme will support up to 20 local authorities with high or rising demand for children’s social care services to improve the support offered to vulnerable children and their families. Through this, we aim to enable more children to stay at home thriving in stable family environments, and safely reduce the number of children entering care.</p><p> </p><p>Across the government, we are also tackling the problems that cause children to be in need in the first place. This includes better supporting those with alcohol-dependent parents, the introduction of landmark legislation for those affected by domestic abuse, preventing young people being drawn into serious violence, and unprecedented investment in early years education and support for children and young people’s mental health.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 252568 question first answered 14/05/2019 15:46:32 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi attachment 1 file name 252568_252574_Children_In_Care_Table.doc title 252568_252574_Table
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1125298

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Holiday Activities and Food Programme: Barnsley
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of the funding announced to provide free meals and activities over the 2019 summer holidays will be provided to Barnsley.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley East
	tabling member printed	Stephanie Peacock
	uin	252033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>As there were no applications for funding from any organisations to deliver the programme in Barnsley this summer, Barnsley will not receive any funding from the 2019 Holiday Activities and Food programme.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/05/2019 15:59:36 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4607 label Biography information for Stephanie Peacock

1125323

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Local Government Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on improving schools' access to local authority support for pupils and families that need it.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	251957
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education meets regularly with Cabinet colleagues to discuss the Department for Education agenda.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/05/2019 15:56:24 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1125374

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Day Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of level of public awareness of the 30 hours free childcare programme in each income decile in England.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	251920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>This government is committed to helping working families with accessible, affordable childcare and offers a broad range of childcare support.</p><p>The department measures awareness via the annual Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents, the most recent data published as Official Statistics in December 2018: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2018</a>.</p><p>This data will be collected in 2019 via the same survey and published as Official Statistics in December 2019.</p><p>Table 3.1, attached, summarises awareness of the 30 hours policy among families with children aged 0-4 years in England, broken down by various family characteristics such as family income.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/05/2019 16:29:19 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi attachment 1 file name 251920_Table_3.1_Awareness_of_the_30_hours_offer.docx title 251920 Table 3.1
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1125404

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Dylan Tiffin-Brown
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the report of the Serious Case Review into the death of Dylan Tiffin-Brown is due to be published.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	252078
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Publication and timings of serious case reviews rest with the relevant local safeguarding children board. The department cannot comment on specific serious case reviews until after publication.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2015’ sets out the purpose of serious case reviews and the process to be followed. Decisions on the scope and methodology rest with the relevant local safeguarding children board (LSCB) and I expect Northamptonshire’s LSCB, like all others, to reflect our guidance in any review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 252079 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:04:00 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1125405

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Dylan Tiffin-Brown
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will ensure that in compiling its report the Serious Case Review Panel reviewing the death of Dylan Tiffin Brown in Northampton will interview family and community members as set out in the guidance for serious case reviews.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	252079
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Publication and timings of serious case reviews rest with the relevant local safeguarding children board. The department cannot comment on specific serious case reviews until after publication.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2015’ sets out the purpose of serious case reviews and the process to be followed. Decisions on the scope and methodology rest with the relevant local safeguarding children board (LSCB) and I expect Northamptonshire’s LSCB, like all others, to reflect our guidance in any review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 252078 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:04:00 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1125406

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Social Services: Northamptonshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what reports he has received from the children's services commissioner on progress in improving children's services in Northamptonshire in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	252080
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Malcolm Newsam CBE was appointed as Commissioner for Children’s Services in Northamptonshire on 30 November 2018. He has submitted one report to date. This will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/05/2019 15:52:58 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1125433

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Free School Meals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of rolling over any unspent funds on the cards of children entitled to free school meals, at the end of each week, so that they can be used the following week.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	251926
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Free school meals (FSM) are intended as a benefit in kind, rather than a cash benefit, and our primary interest is that schools meet their legal duties to provide nutritious free lunches to eligible children.</p><p>We trust school leaders to make the best decisions in the interests of their pupils and it is right that they have flexibility around how they deliver FSM.</p><p>We are, of course, very keen to ensure that all eligible children receive their full entitlement to FSM. We are also interested to hear about new and creative steps schools are taking to support eligible children. It is important that children are claiming their free lunch each day and that schools and colleges operating this system to avoid any risk of children building up significant cash reserves on their accounts or regularly spending their allowances at other times of the day without receiving a healthy lunch.</p><p>We would not wish to instruct schools to do any specific approach nationally. However, we will consider how we can share the very best practice around FSM.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/05/2019 16:27:27 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1125436

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data his Department holds on the number of children of offenders currently in the care system.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	252096
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>​The department does not collect information specifically on the number of children of offenders taken into care and the costs associated with this.</p><p>Information is collected on the main category of need for which a child is looked-after, including low income, family in acute stress or family dysfunction, but within those categories offending by a parent is not identified separately as a reason for a child to be looked-after. The main category of need is dependent on an individual child’s circumstances; not solely a shared characteristic of parental offending. Children who are in need simply because a parent has been imprisoned but the reason for imprisonment bears no relation to the child being in need can be included as in need under the category of absent parenting.</p><p>The cost of support and care placements varies across individual children. Local authorities are required to submit their spending on children in care to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, which is published annually. We also publish information on the average weekly unit costs of looked after children, by local authority, in the Local Authority Interactive Tool.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 252107 question first answered 14/05/2019 10:00:16 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft