Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the link between post-natal depression and children being taken into social care; and if she will make a statement.

The Department has made no separate assessment to collect information in this way. Local authorities who provide social care support do so in accordance with the Children Act 1989. The Act promotes family life whilst maintaining a child’s needs as paramount. Children should remain with their families, unless intervention is necessary to protect them.

Government will provide an additional £365 million to NHS England over five years (to 2020/21) to improve perinatal mental health services.