Young Carers

Debate between Baroness Hussein-Ece and Lord Nash

Thursday 23rd March 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hussein-Ece]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in ensuring that children and young people who care for family members are identified and supported.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education (Lord Nash) (Con)]

My Lords, we introduced changes to the Children and Families Act 2014 to ensure that local authorities identify needs and assess and support young carers. We have considered recently published research and are exploring policy avenues to help local authorities, schools and professionals to improve young carers’ identification and support. We will be setting out our vision and future plans in the cross-government carers strategy, led by the Department of Health, to be published later this year.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

I think the Minister for that response. Is he aware of any more accurate figures of the sheer numbers of children and young people who care for family members with disabilities and those with mental disabilities? Barnardo’s has estimated that it is somewhere in the region of 200,000, possibly more. Can he say whether, in the strategy that will be published, health professionals will be trained to identify children who are carers? Can he also say what is being done about 16 to 18 year-olds who are twice as likely as their peer group to not be in employment or education? What support will they get to reach their full potential?

[Lord Nash]

My Lords, we have supported various programmes in this regard, such as the Suffolk Family Carers programme, to raise awareness of young carers among teachers and other staff. We have focused on embedding a whole family approach to this issue and have trained school nurses to be champions for young carers. As I say, we will set out further proposals in the carers strategy. I agree entirely with the noble Baroness: although we collect some data centrally, we need to work harder to collect data and identify young carers wherever they are.

Care Leavers: Life Chances

Debate between Baroness Hussein-Ece and Lord Nash

Wednesday 29th June 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

Yes. As the noble Baroness will know, there is further financial support for schoolchildren in care through the pupil premium, and if they go to university there is extra money available.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

My Lords, local authorities that have responsibility for these children are usually the largest employers in their area. Like all parents, they should take more responsibility in ensuring that these children and young people have access to apprenticeships and jobs and have a future. Many do not do this, although there are examples of good practice. Will the Minister say how this will be rolled out?

[Lord Nash]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right. Part of the local offer will make sure that local authorities set out well in advance of when children leave care what the opportunities for them are. Then we can spread good practice in this area.

Schools: Funding

Debate between Baroness Hussein-Ece and Lord Nash

Tuesday 22nd March 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I can give the noble Lord that assurance. It is quite clear that the formula will benefit many areas that are Labour controlled, and it is being driven entirely on the basis that we have a level playing field for all pupils so that we can deliver educational excellence everywhere.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

My Lords, does the Minister think that the very high salaries paid in some instances to the heads of academy chains—some are reportedly paid three times as much as the Prime Minister—is a good use of public funds?

[Lord Nash]

We set out in great detail in the White Paper our thinking behind multi-academy trusts. Where schools are delivering educational excellence people deserve to be rewarded accordingly.

Childcare: Early-years Funding

Debate between Baroness Hussein-Ece and Lord Nash

Wednesday 3rd June 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

The Conservatives in the previous Government demonstrated very clearly what they mean by “running the country efficiently” and “value for money”.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

Will the Minister give an assurance that there will be monitoring of whether children from the most disadvantaged families are able to benefit from this scheme?