Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 May 2023 to Question 183063 on Court of Protection, if he will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on allowing access to Child Trust Funds using DWP Appointee status as a proxy for approval.

The DWP appointee system gives access to social security benefits only. It does not give access to monies held in Child Trust Funds. Where the child is incapable of accessing the funds themselves, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides for how a third party can do that on the child’s behalf, namely, through the Court of Protection. There are no plans to change this approach.