Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take in response to the report of the Competition and Markets Authority Children’s Social Care Market study, published on 22 October.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market study in March 2021 examining the lack of availability and increasing costs in children’s social care provision, including children’s homes and fostering. The CMA will examine concerns around high prices paid by local authorities and inadequate supply of appropriate placements for children. Its interim report was published on 22 October and its full report, including any recommendations, will be published by 11 March 2022.

The department welcomes the findings from the CMA’s interim report but will wait for the final report and recommendations before setting out our response.