Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact that the cost of living crisis on the number of children entering care in the North East.

The department monitors the situation of the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. We maintain regular contact and work closely with local authorities in the North East to recognise and understand the children in care numbers.

The department’s sector-led improvement programme continues to support long-term improvement in children’s social care, with 68 local authorities having already received support, including five in the North East.

As local authorities grapple with competing priorities, including any impact of the cost of living on families and services, the department will continue to focus on helping keep children safe.