Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the February 2019 report by Action for Children and others which linked reductions in local children's services with an increase in youth violence and exploitation; and if he will make a statement.

At Autumn Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an extra £410 million to address pressures on social care services, along with £84 million over 5 years to support up to 20 local authorities to improve their social work practice and decision-making, enabling them to work more effectively with the most vulnerable children and their families.

This builds on the £200 billion government has already made available to councils up to 2020 to provide services in the best interests of local residents, including those for children and young people.

We are also working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the sector to ensure decisions around core funding made at Spending Review, and how it is shared between local authorities as part of the review of relative needs and resources, are informed by the best available evidence.

Additionally, the National Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has announced its first review into adolescents at risk of criminal exploitation focusing on whether young people get the help they need, when they need it and how services can be improved to prevent further harm: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-safeguarding-practice-review-panel-first-national-review.