Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.64 of Budget 2020 on research to support vulnerable children, what progress has been made on delivering the £2.5 million for research and developing best practice around the integration of services for families, including family hubs.

We will be launching the procurement process for research and developing best practice on integration of services for families, including family hubs, shortly.

The number of family hubs in each locality is determined by local councils in consultation with their local communities.

Local authorities and their partners have the flexibility to deliver the Troubled Families Programme in the way that best meets their local needs. The programme’s Early Help System Guide supports local areas to re-configure their services around families and encourages innovative, multi-agency practice, which could include integrated hubs based in the community.