Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the provision of statutory services for children by local authorities.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently discussed children’s social care with colleagues, including the my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which includes the provision of statutory services for children by local authorities.

The department works closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of policy areas including local authority children’s social care services, the Troubled Families Programme and work to reduce the number of care leavers who experience homelessness and rough sleeping.