Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the proposal by Sir Martin Narey in his review of children's homes that local planning authorities include clear statements in their local plans about the level of housing need for children in children's homes.

In July 2016, my Department published ‘Putting Children First’, in which it set out the Government’s initial response to Sir Martin Narey’s review of residential care in England, including plans to invite local authorities to come together to bid to pilot new commissioning arrangements, and to undertake a national stocktake of foster care. The Department will respond more fully to Sir Martin’s review, and the other recommendations he makes, later in the autumn. ‘Putting Children First’ can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/554573/Putting_children_first_delivering_vision_excellent_childrens_social_care.pdf