Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Action for Children press release entitled Children's funding slashed by a third per child, leaving thousands at risk of falling into crisis, dated 26 February 2019, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of funding for children’s services.

At Autumn Budget my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor announced an extra £410 million to address pressures on social care services, along with £84 million over five years to support up to 20 local authorities to improve their social work practice and decision-making, enabling them to work more effectively with the most vulnerable children and their families.

This builds on the £200 billion government has already made available to councils up to 2020 to provide services in the best interests of local residents, including those for children and young people.

We are also working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the sector to ensure decisions around core funding made at Spending Review, and how it is shared between local authorities as part of the review of relative needs and resources, are informed by the best available evidence.

The government will continue to work closely with the sector to consider long-term children’s services funding as part of the upcoming Spending Review.