Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Children's Society's The Good Childhood Report 2023, published on 20 September, and what plans they have to implement its recommendations to promote the wellbeing of children.

The Government is grateful for the Good Childhood Report and has noted its findings. The Children’s Commissioner’s Family Review covers similar issues and the Government’s response to this will be published imminently.

The recommendation to create a cabinet level minister for children was addressed in the Government’s response to the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. We accept the importance of placing the best interests of the child front and centre in policy and decision making at the highest level of government. This role is already fulfilled through the work of the Secretary of State for Education.

We are implementing the proposals of the Government’s Transforming children and young people’s mental health Green Paper which includes establishing mental health support teams in schools and providing training to Senior Mental Health leads in schools.

The Department for Education publishes an annual State of the Nation report into Children’s wellbeing. The report brings together a range of published information from government, academic, voluntary, and private sector organisations to provide a clear narrative for all those interested in the wellbeing of children and young people in England. It provides a shared evidence base for everyone – in government, services, schools and colleges, parents and families, communities, and employers – to reflect upon and deliver better wellbeing outcomes for all children and young people.