Oral Answers to Questions

Ged Killen Excerpts

Monday 12th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Jake Berry]

I can absolutely provide that assurance to my hon. Friend. Demographic change will be at the heart of the fairer funding review.

[Ged Killen (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Lab/Co-op)]

15. What steps he is taking to support local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties in relation to children in care.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rishi Sunak)]

Over the spending review period, councils will receive more than £200 billion to deliver local services. This money is largely not ring-fenced, so local authorities can prioritise where they see fit, including for their statutory duties relating to children in care.

[Ged Killen]

With the education disparity between looked-after and non-looked-after children being so wide, what more does the Minister believe local authorities can do to bridge the gap?

[Rishi Sunak]

The hon. Gentleman raises a good point about the outcomes for children in care. The Government are consulting and are shortly to introduce the care leavers covenant, which will look to support companies, charities and local government to bring care leavers into employment after they leave care, and we are strengthening corporate parenting provisions under the Children and Social Work Act 2017.