Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to increase funding for (a) children’s centres, (b) youth workers and (c) other early intervention services during the covid-19 outbreak.

The government has provided £3.7 billion of funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures. This funding is un-ringfenced, recognising local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the major COVID-19 service pressures in their local area, including on children’s centres, youth work and other early intervention services. We will keep this under very close review.

This funding is in addition to the £2.9 billion core spending power available to local authorities this financial year. This includes £1 billion of grant funding that can be used flexibly by local authorities to deliver adult and children’s services.

Longer term funding considerations are a matter for the next Spending Review.