Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Amesbury Excerpts
Monday 27th February 2023

(1 year, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Gibb Portrait Nick Gibb
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I congratulate my hon. Friend on his commitment to reading and congratulate Skerne Park Academy on its Reading Lobster scheme, which I am keen to learn more about. Anything that promotes a love and habit of reading for pleasure can only be a good thing—and, as I say, the world’s your lobster.

Mike Amesbury Portrait Mike Amesbury (Weaver Vale) (Lab)
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According to the Department’s own figures, in 2022, 5,400 children’s social workers left the profession. That is 9% up on the previous year. What are Ministers doing to address this crisis in retention and recruitment in children’s social work?

Claire Coutinho Portrait Claire Coutinho
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I agree with the hon. Gentleman that recruitment and retention is key. We set out plans in our reforms a couple of weeks ago, including looking at what we are doing on agency workers, An additional £3.2 billion was set out in the autumn statement to go into adult and children’s social care.