Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage profit-making companies to run Secure Children's Homes.

The Government has worked closely with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, Local Government Association, the Youth Justice Board and the Secure Accommodation Network to consider how the operation of the secure children’s homes system could be better planned and co-ordinated to meet children’s needs.

We are currently considering the commissioning arrangements for all children’s homes as part of our response to recommendations made in Sir Martin Narey’s independent review of residential care. We also await the outcome of Charlie Taylor’s review of the youth justice system in England and Wales. Work will continue through to the end of this year to identify the best long-term commissioning arrangements for secure children’s homes.