Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Lucy Allan

Monday 10th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con)]

Following his meeting last week with the Family Rights Group to discuss the care crisis review, will the Children’s Minister now consider developing a long-term strategy for reducing the number of children being taken into care?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

My hon. Friend had a debate on the care crisis review last week. We recognise that the number of care order applications and the number of children in care have risen, meaning more work for local authorities. That is why we are working across Government, as I articulated in that debate in Westminster Hall last week, to ensure that local authorities and the courts have the resources that they need.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Lucy Allan

Monday 25th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con)]

Does the Minister agree with the basic premise of the care crisis review that, if more money were spent on early intervention and family support, fewer children would go into care, and does he agree that that would be a good thing?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I thank my hon. Friend, who has been a great advocate of early intervention. She is absolutely right. On top of the £1.4 billion programme for troubled families, the Government are looking at reducing parental conflict. We know that many children in need have suffered from domestic abuse. The landmark Bill that we are bringing forward bears witness to our hard work across government to deliver this. However, she is absolutely right to say that early intervention is important and the Government take that very seriously.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nadhim Zahawi and Lucy Allan

Monday 14th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Allan (Telford) (Con)]

T4. The Minister will have read the Education Committee’s report on the Government’s Green Paper on children’s mental health. Does the Minister agree with the Committee that there needs to be specific, distinct proposals to enable looked-after children to access mental health services?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Nadhim Zahawi)]

That is a really important question. We are piloting new approaches to mental health assessment for children in care. The pilots seek to address concerns about the current mental health assessment for children and young people entering care, and to build on the recommendations of the expert working group on mental health.