Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the Commissioner’s report on children’s services in Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council of July 2024, published on 17 September 2024, whether her Department has reviewed this matter in relation to the Secretary of State’s best value duties.

The Department is aware of the Children's Services Commissioner's report on Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. While concerns relating to children's services are primarily a matter for the Department for Education, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has considered the findings of the report as part of its assessment of risks relevant to the council's compliance with its Best Value Duty. The Department remains in regular contact with the Department for Education regarding progress.