Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for children’s services.

The government always considers all local government spending when finalising budgets at finance settlements, to ensure councils can continue to deliver vital services, including children’s care. The government works closely with the sector to understand their needs and funding requirements.

In 2021/22, local authority gross expenditure on children and young people's services was £11.9 billion. For 2023/24, the Local Government Finance Settlement has made available up to £59.7 billion for all local government services in England, including spending on children's services. This is an increase in Core Spending Power of 9.4% in cash terms on 2022/23.

Within the Stable Homes, Built on Love reform strategy, the government announced an additional £200 million made available for care system transformation until 2024/25. Longer-term funding decisions to scale up these reforms will be made in subsequent spending review periods.