We are providing local authorities with more money to support vulnerable children, with an additional £410 million invested this year across adults\u2019 and children\u2019s social care. Separately, we are investing £84 million over 5 years to drive improvements in children\u2019s services across local authorities, especially through early intervention.<\/p>
In 2018, the department introduced a new, tougher Ofsted inspection framework to drive improvement in children\u2019s services. The department intervenes robustly in every local authority judged \u2018inadequate\u2019 by Ofsted, bringing in experts to assess which improvements will ensure better services. This might include removing service delivery from the council\u2019s control by establishing a trust, giving children\u2019s services a fresh start.<\/p>
Since May 2010, 46 local authorities have been lifted out of intervention and have not returned, and the number of inadequate local authorities has reduced from 30 to 19 since July 2017. We aim to continue making these improvements at pace so that, by 2022, less than 10% of local authorities are rated \u2018inadequate\u2019 by Ofsted, halving failure rates within 5 years and providing consistently better services for thousands of children and families across the country.<\/p>
To get ahead of failure, we are investing an additional £20 million in our regional improvement strategy, working collaboratively with the Association of Directors of Children\u2019s Services, Local Government Association, Solace and the rest of the sector to identify local authorities that need additional support. Our Regional Improvement Alliances and high-performing \u2018Partners in Practice\u2019 local authorities support those at risk of failure, embedding a system of sector-led improvement with more than 70 local authorities receiving support to date.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-22T16:46:42.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Social Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve local authority support for vulnerable children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"} ], "uin" : "912085"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139930", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139930/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In 2018 the Department published a call for evidence on \u201cE10 petrol, consumer protection and fuel pump labelling\u201d. This document noted that using E10 (petrol containing up to 10% bioethanol) in place of E5 could reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions of a petrol vehicle by around two per cent.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4020", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Freeman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Freeman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-08-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-08-05T15:27:07.187Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Petrol: Ethanol"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the amount of ethanol in petrol sold to reduce carbon emissions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1436", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Farrelly"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle-under-Lyme"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Paul Farrelly"}
], "uin" : "278404"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139931", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139931/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department welcomes the contribution provided by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), which has highlighted a number of challenges that must be addressed. We are pleased with the progress noted by the RCPCH in the most recent assessment, particularly on the NHS Long Term Plan including its focus on maternity, support for mental health, learning disabilities and cancer.<\/p> There are no current plans to introduce a separate children and young people\u2019s health strategy as suggested by the RCPCH and other bodies. Our Prevention Vision is clear on the importance of action in our earliest experiences, the environment around us and from the services we receive. We are focussed on tackling the root causes of poor health, not just treating the symptoms and will continue to lead a range of policies to influence the wider issues that impact on child health.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4065", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Jackie Doyle-Price"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thurrock"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jackie Doyle-Price"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "278520"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-25T10:12:17.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Health: Children and Young People"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will introduce a children and young people's health strategy to link policies that affect child health and to tackle the social determinants of health outcomes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4395", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Workington"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sue Hayman"}
], "uin" : "278522"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139932", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139932/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is completely committed to playing our part in strengthening grassroots cricket in this country, and are working with Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to help improve the prospects for the game at all levels. Since 2009, Sport England has invested £100,070,150 of Government and National Lottery funding into the game of cricket including investing in new and existing cricket facilities, boosting participation in the game and attracting people of all ages from diverse backgrounds to start or continue playing cricket.<\/p> DCMS does not hold figures for the number of cricket pitches sold for housing or commercial development. Sport England records show there are currently 7,106 pitches in England which are operational at present, whether that be local authority, school, club owned, free to play or otherwise.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mims Davies"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Eastleigh"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mims Davies"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-22T09:29:51.44Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cricket: Sportsgrounds"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of cricket pitches that have been sold for (a) housing development and (b) other commercial development since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4667", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mike Amesbury"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Weaver Vale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mike Amesbury"}
], "uin" : "278596"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139933", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139933/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has advised that the highly specialised technologies (HST) programme has, to date, only needed to assess single products for single indications. Should a situation arise for the evaluation of multiple technologies for the same indication within the HST process, the feasibility and suitability of this would be considered at that point. Any such process would closely reflect the established multiple technology appraisal process, which is designed to appraise more than one technology.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4455", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Seema Kennedy"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Ribble"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Seema Kennedy"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-22T15:38:13.043Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Medical Treatments"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NICE\u2019s multiple technology appraisal process can be applied to treatments evaluated through NICE\u2019s highly specialised technologies appraisal programme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4244", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leicester South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jonathan Ashworth"}
], "uin" : "278512"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139934", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139934/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government introduced a statutory defence for victims of modern slavery (both under and over the age of 18), to protect those very vulnerable people who were previously being unfairly prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit by their exploiters \u2013 notably cannabis cultivation. We are aware of concerns from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the police that the defence is open to abuse from opportunistic criminals who are not victims, to escape justice for their crimes. That is why my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary asked the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act to examine how the statutory defence was working in practice.<\/p> <\/p> The report of the review was published in May. It found that the defence strikes the correct balance between protecting genuine victims and preventing misuse from opportunistic criminals. My rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is considering the review\u2019s findings, and the Home Office will work closely with the CPS and law enforcement agencies to take the report\u2019s recommendations forward. A copy of the final report of the Independent Modern Slavery Act Review can be found via the link below:<\/p> <\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-of-the-modern-slavery-act-final-report<\/a><\/p> <\/p> To determine how many people who at some point in their lives have been victims of modern slavery are currently in custody would require a search of individual records and could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4362", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Argar"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Charnwood"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Argar"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "278559"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-29T15:46:38.42Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Slavery: Victims"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of victims of modern slavery in prison.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4493", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burgon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burgon"}
], "uin" : "278558"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139935", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1139935/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government introduced a statutory defence for victims of modern slavery (both under and over the age of 18), to protect those very vulnerable people who were previously being unfairly prosecuted for crimes they were forced to commit by their exploiters \u2013 notably cannabis cultivation. We are aware of concerns from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the police that the defence is open to abuse from opportunistic criminals who are not victims, to escape justice for their crimes. That is why my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary asked the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act to examine how the statutory defence was working in practice.<\/p> <\/p> The report of the review was published in May. It found that the defence strikes the correct balance between protecting genuine victims and preventing misuse from opportunistic criminals. My rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is considering the review\u2019s findings, and the Home Office will work closely with the CPS and law enforcement agencies to take the report\u2019s recommendations forward. A copy of the final report of the Independent Modern Slavery Act Review can be found via the link below:<\/p> <\/p>