Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of those leading early years groups had a relevant graduate qualification in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, (3) 2017, and (4) 2018.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Data on the number of graduates in the workforce is collected and published every 2 years as part of the ‘Childcare and early years providers survey’. In the period requested we have data for 2016 and 2018:
Childcare and early years providers survey: 2018, table 15 and attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2018.
Childcare and early years providers survey: 2016, table 10 and attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2016.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many early years professionals with a relevant graduate qualification were working in early years education in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, (3) 2017, and (4) 2018.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Data on the number of graduates in the workforce is collected and published every 2 years as part of the ‘Childcare and early years providers survey’. In the period requested we have data for 2016 and 2018:
Childcare and early years providers survey: 2018, table 15 and attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2018.
Childcare and early years providers survey: 2016, table 10 and attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2016.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the review by Professor Arindrajit Dube of the international evidence on the impacts of minimum wages will begin; and when the review will make its interim and final reports.
Answered by Lord Henley
Through the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, the Government ensures that the lowest paid in our society are fairly rewarded for their work. From April 2019, over 2.1 million people will benefit from inflation-beating increases in the minimum wages rates.
At Spring Statement 2019, the Government confirmed the Low Pay Commission’s remit for the National Living Wage to reach 60 per cent of median earnings by 2020, subject to sustained economic growth. At £8.21 an hour, the National Living Wage is on track to meet this target. Later this year, the Government will set out the Low Pay Commission’s remit beyond 2020, with the ultimate objective of ending low pay in the UK.
To help inform this new remit, the Government has appointed Professor Arindrajit Dube to undertake a review of the latest international evidence on the impacts of minimum wages and consider the implications for future minimum wage policy in the UK. The review began in March 2019 and Professor Dube will present his findings in the autumn.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of male mentors needed to befriend and support boys and young men growing up without a father in the home in areas with high prevalence of knife crime or gang membership.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government’s Serious Violence Strategy sets out our analysis of the drivers of serious violence and risk factors of involvement in violent crime. There are a range of complex factors behind the recent increases in serious violence, and the analysis in the strategy sets out that a major factor has been changes in the drugs market. The strategy also sets out the key risk factors which may mean a young person may have a greater propensity to get involved in crime than would otherwise be the case such as school absence, peer pressure and family circumstances.
We are supporting a range of locally led community projects through the anti-knife crime Community Fund and Early Intervention Youth Fund to intervene early with young people at risk of criminal involvement, gang exploitation and county lines. While no specific assessment of numbers have been made, a number of these projects make use of male mentors who are able to gain the trust of young people and who are more likely to convey the right messages in appropriate ways to deter young people from making the wrong choices.
We are also introducing a new £200 million Youth Endowment Fund, to be delivered over 10 years to support further interventions in this area to steer young people away from becoming serious offenders. We are also piloting a new community advocate programme within priority areas in London and Manchester to help equip trusted adults with advice and messages to support and signpost young people who can be hard to reach in having #knifefree conversations.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on the recruitment of male mentors for boys and young men growing up without a father in the home in areas of high incidence of knife crime or gang membership.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government’s Serious Violence Strategy sets out our analysis of the drivers of serious violence and risk factors of involvement in violent crime. There are a range of complex factors behind the recent increases in serious violence, and the analysis in the strategy sets out that a major factor has been changes in the drugs market. The strategy also sets out the key risk factors which may mean a young person may have a greater propensity to get involved in crime than would otherwise be the case such as school absence, peer pressure and family circumstances.
We are supporting a range of locally led community projects through the anti-knife crime Community Fund and Early Intervention Youth Fund to intervene early with young people at risk of criminal involvement, gang exploitation and county lines. While no specific assessment of numbers have been made, a number of these projects make use of male mentors who are able to gain the trust of young people and who are more likely to convey the right messages in appropriate ways to deter young people from making the wrong choices.
We are also introducing a new £200 million Youth Endowment Fund, to be delivered over 10 years to support further interventions in this area to steer young people away from becoming serious offenders. We are also piloting a new community advocate programme within priority areas in London and Manchester to help equip trusted adults with advice and messages to support and signpost young people who can be hard to reach in having #knifefree conversations.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much it costs to maintain a child in local authority care for a year.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The annual cost to maintain a child in local authority care in the period 2016 to 2017 was £178,360[1] for residential care and £29,900 for fostering services.
[1]The results are based on unit costs included in the Local Authority Interactive Tool (LAIT) Department for Education, GOV.UK. Last updated on 6 June 2018. Accessed from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-interactive-tool-lait.
The figures in the LAIT are recorded as weekly. For the annual cost, the methodology simply involved multiplying the figures by 52 weeks.
Please note that the original LAIT figures were rounded to the nearest £5, so actual annual costs may vary slightly.
For the weekly fostering services that were originally included in the LAIT, the calculation was based on the section 251 Outturn data. This records the total spend (gross) on fostering services. This figure was then divided by the number of children in fostering placements as of 31 March 2017, which was published in the ‘Children Looked After in England data, SFR50’. This figure was then divided by 365 days to give a daily cost. It was then multiplied by seven to give the weekly cost.
For the calculation of weekly residential care, the LAIT also referred to the section 251 for total spend on residential care. This figure was then divided by the number of days that residential care was provided for children nationally, which is collected as part of the Children Looked after return. This figure was then multiplied by seven for the weekly cost.
Section 251 documents, Education Funding Agency and Education and Skills Funding Agency. Accessed from: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/section-251-materials.
‘Children looked after in England including adoption: 2016 to 2017’, Department for Education. Accessed from:
‘Children Looked after return SSDA903’, Department for Education. Accessed from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-looked-after-return-2016-to-2017-guide.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent the closure of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court National Unit.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Data relating to the number of families who have graduated successfully from a Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) or the number of children retained by their parents following their parents’ graduation from an FDAC is collected and retained by local authorities who are responsible for setting up, managing and supporting local FDACs around the country. This is part of their child protection and care proceedings work. The government does not collect such data.
Similarly, it is for local authorities to consider what savings may be made from setting up an FDAC in the context of their overall spending plans. Equally, it is for local authorities to monitor this as they make future decisions about spending. The savings that local authorities may make would vary depending on a number of factors and local circumstances. Local FDAC services, and other innovative models similar to FDAC, will continue to be funded by those local areas who choose to establish or commission these services locally.
In the period 2015 to 2016, the government provided funding to the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust to establish the FDAC National Unit. Funding for the FDAC National Unit was originally provided on the basis that it would expand the FDAC model to new areas and to help the National Unit to be self-sustaining. Unfortunately, this has proved challenging, despite considerable effort and investment by both the government and the NHS trust.
We have extended funding for the FDAC National Unit four times since the period 2015 to 2016. The level of funding has varied from year to year, depending on the specific elements of work being commissioned. Most recently, we committed to providing funding to the trust for the period to the end of September 2018 to support its application to the government’s Life Chances Fund (LCF). The trust’s application to the LCF had two aims. The first aim was to develop a social impact bond model of funding for local FDACs. The second aim was to develop a sustainable way to fund the FDAC National Unit. Unfortunately, the trust recently decided to withdraw their application to the LCF. We understand that this means that the trust is considering the future of the FDAC National Unit, including its potential closure. Officials are working with the trust to ensure that the impact of the FDAC National Unit’s potential closure on local sites is minimised and that any resources developed by the FDAC National Unit remain accessible to the trust and others interested in the FDAC model in the future.
The government is committed to finding effective approaches to spreading innovative evidence-based models of practice to local areas.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much it costs to fund the Family Drug and Alcohol Court National Unit for a year; and what is their estimate of the financial savings to local authorities from a Family Drug and Alcohol Court.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Data relating to the number of families who have graduated successfully from a Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) or the number of children retained by their parents following their parents’ graduation from an FDAC is collected and retained by local authorities who are responsible for setting up, managing and supporting local FDACs around the country. This is part of their child protection and care proceedings work. The government does not collect such data.
Similarly, it is for local authorities to consider what savings may be made from setting up an FDAC in the context of their overall spending plans. Equally, it is for local authorities to monitor this as they make future decisions about spending. The savings that local authorities may make would vary depending on a number of factors and local circumstances. Local FDAC services, and other innovative models similar to FDAC, will continue to be funded by those local areas who choose to establish or commission these services locally.
In the period 2015 to 2016, the government provided funding to the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust to establish the FDAC National Unit. Funding for the FDAC National Unit was originally provided on the basis that it would expand the FDAC model to new areas and to help the National Unit to be self-sustaining. Unfortunately, this has proved challenging, despite considerable effort and investment by both the government and the NHS trust.
We have extended funding for the FDAC National Unit four times since the period 2015 to 2016. The level of funding has varied from year to year, depending on the specific elements of work being commissioned. Most recently, we committed to providing funding to the trust for the period to the end of September 2018 to support its application to the government’s Life Chances Fund (LCF). The trust’s application to the LCF had two aims. The first aim was to develop a social impact bond model of funding for local FDACs. The second aim was to develop a sustainable way to fund the FDAC National Unit. Unfortunately, the trust recently decided to withdraw their application to the LCF. We understand that this means that the trust is considering the future of the FDAC National Unit, including its potential closure. Officials are working with the trust to ensure that the impact of the FDAC National Unit’s potential closure on local sites is minimised and that any resources developed by the FDAC National Unit remain accessible to the trust and others interested in the FDAC model in the future.
The government is committed to finding effective approaches to spreading innovative evidence-based models of practice to local areas.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Family Drug and Alcohol Court National Unit is closing in September.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Data relating to the number of families who have graduated successfully from a Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) or the number of children retained by their parents following their parents’ graduation from an FDAC is collected and retained by local authorities who are responsible for setting up, managing and supporting local FDACs around the country. This is part of their child protection and care proceedings work. The government does not collect such data.
Similarly, it is for local authorities to consider what savings may be made from setting up an FDAC in the context of their overall spending plans. Equally, it is for local authorities to monitor this as they make future decisions about spending. The savings that local authorities may make would vary depending on a number of factors and local circumstances. Local FDAC services, and other innovative models similar to FDAC, will continue to be funded by those local areas who choose to establish or commission these services locally.
In the period 2015 to 2016, the government provided funding to the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust to establish the FDAC National Unit. Funding for the FDAC National Unit was originally provided on the basis that it would expand the FDAC model to new areas and to help the National Unit to be self-sustaining. Unfortunately, this has proved challenging, despite considerable effort and investment by both the government and the NHS trust.
We have extended funding for the FDAC National Unit four times since the period 2015 to 2016. The level of funding has varied from year to year, depending on the specific elements of work being commissioned. Most recently, we committed to providing funding to the trust for the period to the end of September 2018 to support its application to the government’s Life Chances Fund (LCF). The trust’s application to the LCF had two aims. The first aim was to develop a social impact bond model of funding for local FDACs. The second aim was to develop a sustainable way to fund the FDAC National Unit. Unfortunately, the trust recently decided to withdraw their application to the LCF. We understand that this means that the trust is considering the future of the FDAC National Unit, including its potential closure. Officials are working with the trust to ensure that the impact of the FDAC National Unit’s potential closure on local sites is minimised and that any resources developed by the FDAC National Unit remain accessible to the trust and others interested in the FDAC model in the future.
The government is committed to finding effective approaches to spreading innovative evidence-based models of practice to local areas.
Asked by: Earl of Listowel (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children have been retained by their parents following their parents' graduation from a Family Drug and Alcohol Court.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Data relating to the number of families who have graduated successfully from a Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) or the number of children retained by their parents following their parents’ graduation from an FDAC is collected and retained by local authorities who are responsible for setting up, managing and supporting local FDACs around the country. This is part of their child protection and care proceedings work. The government does not collect such data.
Similarly, it is for local authorities to consider what savings may be made from setting up an FDAC in the context of their overall spending plans. Equally, it is for local authorities to monitor this as they make future decisions about spending. The savings that local authorities may make would vary depending on a number of factors and local circumstances. Local FDAC services, and other innovative models similar to FDAC, will continue to be funded by those local areas who choose to establish or commission these services locally.
In the period 2015 to 2016, the government provided funding to the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust to establish the FDAC National Unit. Funding for the FDAC National Unit was originally provided on the basis that it would expand the FDAC model to new areas and to help the National Unit to be self-sustaining. Unfortunately, this has proved challenging, despite considerable effort and investment by both the government and the NHS trust.
We have extended funding for the FDAC National Unit four times since the period 2015 to 2016. The level of funding has varied from year to year, depending on the specific elements of work being commissioned. Most recently, we committed to providing funding to the trust for the period to the end of September 2018 to support its application to the government’s Life Chances Fund (LCF). The trust’s application to the LCF had two aims. The first aim was to develop a social impact bond model of funding for local FDACs. The second aim was to develop a sustainable way to fund the FDAC National Unit. Unfortunately, the trust recently decided to withdraw their application to the LCF. We understand that this means that the trust is considering the future of the FDAC National Unit, including its potential closure. Officials are working with the trust to ensure that the impact of the FDAC National Unit’s potential closure on local sites is minimised and that any resources developed by the FDAC National Unit remain accessible to the trust and others interested in the FDAC model in the future.
The government is committed to finding effective approaches to spreading innovative evidence-based models of practice to local areas.