Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of the spending data that local authorities report in relation to children's social work.

The data collected from local authorities about expenditure on Children’s Social Care within the local government finance statistics is badged as a National Statistic by the UK Statistics Authority. The data published under the National Statistics label has been produced to the high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. National Statistics products undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer demands.

Outturn data is provided by local authorities after being audited by independent external auditors of the accounts. Figures are subjected to rigorous pre-defined validation tests both within the form itself, while the form is being completed by the authority and also by Department for Communities and Local Government as the data are received and stored. These validation tests are reviewed regularly for their level of efficacy.