Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Prime Minister's announcement of 14 December 2015, We will not stand by - failing children's services will be taken over, how the Government plans to spend the £100 million to be invested in attracting more high-calibre graduates into social work.

This Government is investing in Step Up to Social Work and Frontline, our fast-track graduate entry programmes, to attract future high-calibre graduates into social work. We aim to train over 3,000 new social workers through fast-track schemes over the Spending Review period.

The cost for the continuation of the Frontline pilot from April 2016 – end March 2019 is estimated at around £10m.

In October 2015, Government issued a tender for a national fast-track social work programme to succeed the Frontline pilot. Funds will be allocated for delivery once the contract is confirmed. Costs will vary according to actual numbers recruited.