Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the scope is of the review of the care system; whether that review will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) amending the Children Act 1989 and other proposals for changes to legislation and (b) the decisions of the Scottish and Welsh Government to remove the reasonable chastisement defence; and if it will consult lead members for children's services that have statutory and political responsibilities for children's social care in their area.

The care review is a fundamental part of the government’s Manifesto. We are moving forward with plans to undertake this at the earliest opportunity. This includes considering the review’s scope, which has yet to be finalised but which we will confirm in due course. The scope will be broad and bold and take a fundamental look across children’s social care, with the aim of better supporting, protecting and improving the outcomes of vulnerable children and young people. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced that the review would be independently led in a written statement on 12 February, which is available at the following link: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2020-02-12/HCWS110/. The review scope will need to be developed alongside the independent leadership of the review.

We anticipate that the review will involve a wide range of figures with experience both within and around local agencies, in addition to the lived experience of children, young people and families.