Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Written Statement on Children's Social Care Update, Official Report, HCWS835, published 9 March 2021, if he will publish the data his Department holds on the use by local authorities of the flexibilities provided for by the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

In February 2021, the department undertook a public consultation to seek views on extending and amending the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.

The consultation document included the monitoring information obtained from local authorities on the use of the flexibilities. On 9 March 2021, the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 were laid and the government response to the consultation was published. The consultation document and the response can be accessed at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-adoption-and-children-coronavirus-amendment-no-2-regulations-2020.