Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is she taking to help ensure that each local authority is providing sufficient, good quality housing and care support for care leavers and other care experienced young people.

The department is providing £99 million to local authorities over this spending review to help care leavers stay with their foster families after they turn 18 in a Staying Put arrangement, so they can continue to benefit from a stable and secure family setting as they transition to independence. We are also providing £36 million to extend the Staying Close pilot so that more care leavers leaving children’s homes will be supported with move-on accommodation and support from a trusted adult. An additional £3.2 million is being given to local authorities this year to provide extra support to care leavers at highest risk of rough sleeping.

In addition, the department is providing £36.4 million this spending review for Personal Advisors to support care leavers up to age 25, helping them navigate services such as housing, health or benefits and providing practical or emotional support to help them prepare for living independently.