Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what research has been undertaken by or on behalf of his Department into the potential (a) benefits and (b) disbenefits to children of further delegation of children's social care functions.

The proposals for the further delegation of children's social care functions build up on the evaluation of the Social Work Practices pilot set in train by the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. This identified evidence of positive change through the delegated arrangements for looked after children and care leavers in the pilot authorities. As a result, the original freedoms in Part 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 were extended to all local authorities.

Discussions with the pilot local authorities and some other councils, supported the argument that wider delegation would, in some circumstances, benefit children.

The proposals in the consultation document, is published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/304660/Powers_to_Delegate_Con_Doc.pdf