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1726605

registered interest
date	02/09/2024
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of children who are taken into the care of local authorities.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL646
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to whole system reform of children’s social care to give hundreds of thousands of children and young people the start in life they deserve.</p><p> </p><p>The department recognises that there is a strong evidence base for early intervention to support families to stay together and thrive, and this will be at the heart of its whole system reform of children’s social care.</p><p> </p><p>This department also recognises the valuable and important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. The government’s manifesto set out a commitment to working with local government to support children in care, including through kinship arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>Through the £45 million Families First for Children pathfinder and Family Network Pilot, the government is testing the implementation of intensive whole family support in ten pathfinder local authorities. In these local authorities, multi-disciplinary teams are providing targeted support to help families overcome challenges at the earliest opportunity to prevent escalation.</p><p>These local authorities are also making greater use of family networks by involving them in decision-making at an earlier stage and providing practical and financial support via family network support packages to help keep children safe at home.</p> answering member printed Baroness Smith of Malvern grouped question UIN HL647 question first answered 18/09/2024 09:41:37 answering member 269 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Malvern
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1726606

registered interest
date	02/09/2024
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve services that aim to prevent children being taken into the care of local authorities.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL647
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to whole system reform of children’s social care to give hundreds of thousands of children and young people the start in life they deserve.</p><p> </p><p>The department recognises that there is a strong evidence base for early intervention to support families to stay together and thrive, and this will be at the heart of its whole system reform of children’s social care.</p><p> </p><p>This department also recognises the valuable and important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children. The government’s manifesto set out a commitment to working with local government to support children in care, including through kinship arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>Through the £45 million Families First for Children pathfinder and Family Network Pilot, the government is testing the implementation of intensive whole family support in ten pathfinder local authorities. In these local authorities, multi-disciplinary teams are providing targeted support to help families overcome challenges at the earliest opportunity to prevent escalation.</p><p>These local authorities are also making greater use of family networks by involving them in decision-making at an earlier stage and providing practical and financial support via family network support packages to help keep children safe at home.</p> answering member printed Baroness Smith of Malvern grouped question UIN HL646 question first answered 18/09/2024 09:41:37 answering member 269 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Malvern
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1726607

registered interest
date	02/09/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Truancy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of children who frequently fail to attend school.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL648
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2024 answer text <p>This government has been clear that absence from school is a key barrier to overcome, because if pupils are not attending school they cannot benefit from good teaching and learning.</p><p> </p><p>Thanks to the efforts of the sector, there are more learners in school almost every day this year compared to last. However, with 1.6 million children still persistently absent, missing 10% of lessons or more, poor attendance remains a major challenge.</p><p> </p><p>That is why the department will work with the sector to bring breakfast clubs to all primary schools, so that every child is in on time and ready to learn. The department will also introduce new annual Ofsted reviews of safeguarding, attendance, and off-rolling. The department will also tackle mental health issues among young people by providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.</p><p> </p><p>This is in addition to activity to support schools and local authorities to tackle the school absence challenge. This includes:</p><ul><li>Setting clear expectations for schools, trusts and local authorities to provide a ‘support first’ approach: the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance requires schools, trusts and local authorities to work together to tackle absence and became statutory in August 2024. For those facing complex barriers to attendance, schools are asked to have sensitive conversations with children and families and work with them to put support in place for their individual needs. This guidance is attached and can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance</a>.</li></ul><ul><li>Supporting schools and local authorities to use data to target interventions: schools and local authorities can access an attendance data tool to identify and intervene where pupils are at risk of persistent absence. Sharing of attendance data has also become mandatory for all schools.</li></ul><ul><li>Attendance mentors operating in five local authorities with high absence levels.</li></ul><ul><li>31 attendance hubs across the country, sharing best practice across the sector.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Wider measures such as the pupil premium, the special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision improvement plan, and the holiday activities and food programme also benefit attendance.</p> answering member printed Baroness Smith of Malvern question first answered 16/09/2024 15:24:01 answering member 269 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Malvern attachment 1 file name HL648 - Working together to improve school attendance guidance.pdf title Working together to improve school attendance
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1726608

registered interest
date	02/09/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Carers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the support given to unpaid carers.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. We want to ensure that people who care for family and friends are better able to look after their own health and wellbeing.</p><p>Long-term reform is needed in social care, and we will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including unpaid carers, to ensure their voices are heard as we develop plans to create a National Care Service. The National Care Service will be underpinned by national standards and delivered locally to ensure that everyone, including unpaid carers, is supported to live independent, dignified lives.</p><p>The Government recognises that many unpaid carers can face challenges balancing employment with caring. That is why we are committed to reviewing the implementation of carer’s leave, and examining the benefits of introducing paid carer’s leave.</p><p>We must also ensure that carers are supported by the benefits system. The Department for Work and Pensions will keep Carer’s Allowance under review to see if it meets its objectives. The previous Work and Pensions Committee made a number of recommendations for changing the rules and processes. The Government will respond to those recommendations in due course.</p> answering member printed Baroness Merron question first answered 11/09/2024 11:56:48 answering member 347 label Biography information for Baroness Merron
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1721212

registered interest
date	17/07/2024
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the number of children in care in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL58
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2024 answer text <p>The department is committed to working with local government to support children in care, including through kinship, foster care, and adoption. The department is also strengthening regulation of the children’s social care sector, so that every child has the best start in life no matter where they grow up.</p><p> </p><p>This government is committed to helping children thrive and wants the best for every child and family. That means providing the right early support for families facing challenges, keeping children close to their communities and family networks and stepping in to keep children safe from harm where this is necessary. For example, the Families First for Children Pathfinder is working with ten local areas to test delivery of children's social care reforms spanning family network engagement and support, safeguarding partners, targeted early help (‘family help’) and child protection. The department will build on the foundations laid by local authorities over recent years to create for a care system that works for everyone.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Smith of Malvern question first answered 31/07/2024 13:18:48 answering member 269 label Biography information for Baroness Smith of Malvern
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1721213

registered interest
date	17/07/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Carers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to provide greater support to unpaid carers in England; and, if so, what additional support they intend to provide.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL59
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to ensuring that families and friends who provide care for loved ones have the support they need and can look after their own health and wellbeing as well as those for whom they care.</p><p>We recognise the challenges carers are facing, and we want to provide the financial help and support they need and deserve, including through Carer’s Allowance and Universal Credit.</p><p>Local authorities also have duties to support carers. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers.</p><p>The Government is also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining all the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.</p> answering member printed Baroness Merron question first answered 31/07/2024 15:33:40 answering member 347 label Biography information for Baroness Merron
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1714604

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the number of children in care experiencing multiple placements.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL4152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2024 answer text <p>The needs of the child are paramount when deciding the right care placement. The Children’s Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to make sure that there is sufficient provision in their area to meet the needs of children in their care and ensure placements safeguard and promote the child’s welfare. Further, the guidance is clear that the child’s allocated social worker, supported by local authority management and resources, should do everything possible to minimise disruption to the child’s education and, where a child is in key stage 4, a move should only be made in exceptional circumstances. Responsibility for looked-after children sits with the local authority. The guidance and regulations of the Children Act 1989 can be found attached.</p><p> </p><p>Every local authority must appoint a Virtual School Head (VSH), who has a statutory duty to promote the educational attainment of all children in their care. All maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to act as a source of advice and expertise about the needs of the looked-after children on the school’s roll. Looked-after children also have top priority in school admissions and attract Pupil Premium Plus funding of £2,570 per child, up to age 16. This is managed by the VSH, who works with the child’s education setting to deliver objectives in the child’s personal education plan.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the number of placements experienced by looked after children in a one year period has remained broadly stable over the past 5 years, the government recognises there are issues with finding stable placements. That is why the government has announced over £400 million in capital funding to help local authorities create more beds in their local areas which will aim to further reduce the number of children experiencing multiple placements.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL4153 question first answered 14/05/2024 11:55:13 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL4152 HL4153 attachment - The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations.pdf title HL4152 HL4153 Attachment
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1714605

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: Schools
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of times children in care must change school.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL4153
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2024 answer text <p>The needs of the child are paramount when deciding the right care placement. The Children’s Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to make sure that there is sufficient provision in their area to meet the needs of children in their care and ensure placements safeguard and promote the child’s welfare. Further, the guidance is clear that the child’s allocated social worker, supported by local authority management and resources, should do everything possible to minimise disruption to the child’s education and, where a child is in key stage 4, a move should only be made in exceptional circumstances. Responsibility for looked-after children sits with the local authority. The guidance and regulations of the Children Act 1989 can be found attached.</p><p> </p><p>Every local authority must appoint a Virtual School Head (VSH), who has a statutory duty to promote the educational attainment of all children in their care. All maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to act as a source of advice and expertise about the needs of the looked-after children on the school’s roll. Looked-after children also have top priority in school admissions and attract Pupil Premium Plus funding of £2,570 per child, up to age 16. This is managed by the VSH, who works with the child’s education setting to deliver objectives in the child’s personal education plan.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the number of placements experienced by looked after children in a one year period has remained broadly stable over the past 5 years, the government recognises there are issues with finding stable placements. That is why the government has announced over £400 million in capital funding to help local authorities create more beds in their local areas which will aim to further reduce the number of children experiencing multiple placements.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL4152 question first answered 14/05/2024 11:55:13 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL4152 HL4153 attachment - The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations.pdf title HL4152 HL4153 Attachment
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1714607

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve the education of children in care.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL4154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2024 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring that looked-after children are supported to succeed in education and achieve positive outcomes. Every local authority must appoint a virtual school head (VSH), who has a statutory duty to promote the educational attainment of all children in their care. All maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to act as a source of advice and expertise about the needs of the looked-after children on the school’s roll. Looked-after children also have top priority in school admissions and attract pupil premium plus funding of £2,570 per child, up to age 16. This is managed by the VSH, who works with the child’s education setting to deliver objectives in the child’s Personal Education Plan.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2023, the department announced the national rollout of £24 million of pupil premium plus style funding to looked-after children and care leavers at post-16 for the next two years, from 2023/24. This funding, which builds on an initial £8 million pilot that launched in October 2021, gives VHSs the financial levers to positively impact the educational outcomes of looked-after children and care leavers in post-16 education.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 09/05/2024 16:18:13 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming

1692603

registered interest
date	28/02/2024
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Local Government: Bankruptcy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report from the Local Government Information Unit, The State of Local Government Finance in England 2024, published on 28 February, which suggests that half the councils in England will face bankruptcy within the next Parliament.
tabling member printed	Lord Laming
uin	HL2844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Lord to the written statement made by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-02-05/hcws241" target="_blank">HCWS241</a> and by the Minister for Local Government <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-02-29/hcws300" target="_blank">HCWS300</a> on 5 February.</p><p>The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 makes available up to £64.7 billion, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion or 7.5% in cash terms on 2023-24 – an above inflation increase. This Settlement includes additional measures worth £600 million announced on 24 January.</p><p>On the 29 February, the Government published details of financial flexibilities agreed with a small number of other councils that requested financial support on an exceptional basis, due to specific local issues that they are unable to manage themselves. Nearly three quarters of the support announced relates to six councils where there has been severe local failure, forcing the government to step in and take action through statutory intervention.</p><p>As a result of this action by Government, we anticipate that all councils will be able to set a balanced budget and continue to deliver vital services for their communities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook attachment 1 file name HL2844 - Written statements - HCWS241.pdf title HCWS241 2 file name HL2844 - Written statements - HCWS300.pdf title HCWS300 question first answered 13/03/2024 16:02:38 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming