Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to increasing and ringfencing funding for leaving care teams in light of the finding of the independent Review of early deaths of care leavers, published on 25 August, that the current workforce supporting young people leaving care is not fit for purpose for those with the greatest need.

This government commissioned this review, bringing to the country’s attention the tragic number of young care leavers who die far too young. The transition to adulthood is an important moment to get right, and the leaving care personal adviser workforce plays a crucial role in that.

We are reviewing the personal adviser workforce and setting higher expectations in the relevant guidance. We have confirmed £25 million of funding this financial year alone, to continue the rollout of Staying Close for care leavers, alongside imposing new duties on councils to strengthen their local offer for young people leaving care, which took effect at the end of September.

The final 2026/27 Local Government Finance Settlement offers £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026/27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025/26. This includes the Revenue Support Grant, which contains funding for the Leaving Care Allowance uplift, extended personal adviser duties, and Staying Put.

The government has a long-standing commitment to provide funding to councils on a non-ringfenced basis, supporting effective and innovative financial management locally and giving local authorities the flexibility to prioritise spending based on local needs and priorities.