Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the (a) Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulation 2020 and (b) relaxation of regulations in respect of children in residential care on child victims of trafficking and children at risk of exploitation.

The safety of vulnerable children remains paramount for the government during the COVID-19 outbreak which is why the vast majority of statutory duties remain unchanged. The Regulations allow some temporary and limited flexibility to be used when absolutely necessary, with oversight by senior management, and must be consistent with the overarching safeguarding and welfare duties that remain in place.

The amendments do not reduce or remove any responsibility that local authorities have towards children, nor should they be at the expense of the rights and protection of children in care. The duties on local authorities and providers to report their decision-making remains the same.

Ofsted inspections continue where there are safeguarding concerns, and new regional education and children’s teams are working around the country to improve our understanding about the risks facing children and local authority and wider multiagency partners’ response to those risks. We continue to work with the Home Office to protect children at risk of exploitation or trafficking.

The Regulations will expire on 25 September unless extended and we are committed to continuously reviewing them, with feedback from stakeholders, so they will remain in place only as long as they are needed.