Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have made representations to his Department on the sustainability of the provision of children’s services.

As the Minister for Local Government, I regularly hear from councils across the country to discuss the delivery of services, including children’s services. I also regularly meet my counterpart in the Department for Education to discuss a range of issues, including the delivery of children’s services.

Long-term funding for local government services, including children’s services, will be considered at this year’s Spending Review. To help ensure decisions are based on the best available evidence, the Government is working closely with local authorities and the wider sector to build the evidence base and help develop a thorough understanding of children’s services costs and pressures.