Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding his Department provides for Local Safeguarding Children Boards.

Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are funded by contributions from the local authority, Primary Care Trust, police and other agencies, with the largest contribution coming from the local authority. It is important that agencies work together to agree budgets locally and prioritise spending in response to local needs and issues.

The Department for Education provided the Association of Independent LSCB Chairs with funding of £240,000 between September 2012 and March 2014 to support the leadership of LSCBs in ensuring the effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements. We will provide them with a further £130,000 in this financial year as they move towards self-sustainability.