Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with Directors of Children’s Services in Greater Manchester on their ability to deliver their statutory duties to children and families.

Along with my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Education, I regularly meet key stakeholders, including Directors of Children’s Services (DCSs) to discuss policy issues relating to the department’s agenda.

I recently met with DCSs and local authority chief executives at the National Children and Adult Services Conference, have held recent roundtables in the department with groups of both DCSs and chief executives, and attended induction events for new DCSs. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education spoke at the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Conference in Manchester and we have both very recently met with a number of children in care to hear their views and experiences.

The department recognises how important it is to speak directly with those who are on the front-line delivering services for children and families.