Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the (a) membership and (b) terms of reference of the Government’s cross-departmental vulnerable children task and finish group .

A group of senior civil servants meets regularly to ensure the government response for vulnerable children during the COVID-19 outbreak is aligned. Given this is not a formal structure, we do not intend to publish a Terms of Reference or membership list. However, for clarification, the purpose of this group is to drive forward the delivery of programmes to mitigate the risks facing vulnerable children that have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Representatives attend this forum from a range of departments, such as the Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care, Home Office, Ministry for Housing and Local Government, Ministry of Justice, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Culture Media and Sport, Ofsted, Public Health England, NHS England and Cabinet Office.