Children’s Centres

Debate between Lord Nash and Baroness Turner of Camden

Monday 13th July 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

Of course I empathise with the practical challenges that such families face. Housing authorities and children’s services work together locally to ensure that the needs of children in homeless families are met. This should include the role that local children’s centres can play in supporting such families. The Housing Act places a duty on authorities to co-operate with social services in situations where children may be made homeless intentionally or may be threatened with being made homeless intentionally.

[Baroness Turner of Camden (Lab)]

My Lords, what arrangements have the Government made for regular reporting back by local authorities about the provision of children’s centres? At the moment there seem to be no national arrangements made by government for reporting back on what is provided.

[Lord Nash]

We will be strengthening the duty on local authorities to report on childcare provision in the Childcare Bill.