Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Children's Commissioners for England, Wales and Scotland were consulted ahead of placing looked after children from England and Wales in secure accommodation in Scotland.

Placements in Scottish secure homes have happened commonly over time, increasing the diversity of specialist secure provision available, which in turn is in the best interests of our most vulnerable children.

My department has not consulted on the amendments on placing looked after children from England and Wales in Secure accommodation in Scotland, in the Children and Social Work Bill. Whilst no child has been placed by an English or Welsh local authority in secure accommodation in Scotland without the authority of the courts in England and Wales, these amendments are necessary to fill a legislative gap relating to secure placements in Scotland by English and Welsh local authorities. While important, the amendments do not seek to change policy. They are essentially a technical fix to clarify the legal position.