Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to The independent review of children’s social care, published in May 2022, and the Government's commitment in response that it will set up a National Implementation Board of sector experts, published on 23 May 2022, whether his Department has plans to (a) engage with birth parents through and (b) include representation of birth parents in that Board.

The National Implementation Board will support and challenge the department’s delivery of the children’s social care reform programme. It will be attended by those with expertise in leading transformational change, but also individuals with direct experience of the care system, which can include birth parents. The department will be working with charities over the summer on an application process for appointing these members to the Board. We are committed to ensuring those with lived experience are at the heart of our agenda.