Session 2019-21 Wednesday No. 23 12 February 2020 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND WRITTEN ANSWERS Written Statements ................................ ................ 1 Written Answers ................................ ..................... 4 [I] indicates that the member concerned has a relevant registered interest. The full register of interests can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests/ Members who want a printed copy of Written Answers and Written Statements should notify the Printed Paper Office. This printed edition is a reproduction of the original text of Answers and Statements, which can be found on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/. Ministers and others who make Statements or answer Questions are referred to only by name, not their ministerial or other title. The current list of ministerial and other responsibilities is as follows. Minister Responsibilities Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal Earl Howe Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Lord Agnew of Oulton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord Ashton of Hyde Chief Whip Baroness Barran Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Baroness Berridge Whip Lord Bethell Whip Baroness Blackwood of North Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care Oxford Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Whip Waldrist Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Whip Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip Lord Duncan of Springbank Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Northern Ireland Office Lord Gardiner of Kimble Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Baroness Goldie Minister of State, Ministry of Defence Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Department for International Development Lord Keen of Elie Advocate-General for Scotland and Ministry of Justice Spokesperson Baroness Morgan of Cotes The Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Baroness Sater Whip Baroness Stedman-Scott Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions Baroness Sugg Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development Baroness Vere of Norbiton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office Viscount Younger of Leckie Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2020 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/ Written Statements 12 February 2020 Page 1 semi-independent placements for children and young Written Statements people under the age of 16. Wednesday, 12 February 2020 Reform is needed as a matter of urgency to ensure this provision is being used appropriately and meets the needs of the young people placed there. I will today be publishing a consultation that invites views on a set of Children’s Social Care new measures to ensure appropriate use of these [HLWS103] placements. The proposals include introducing new Lord Agnew of Oulton: My right honourable friend checks and balances into the system, including national the Secretary of State for Education (Gavin Williamson) standards for providers and measures to drive up the has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. quality of provision. Children and young people who need a social worker, Our proposals include: and who are in or have left care are some of the most • banning the use of independent and semi-independent vulnerable in our society. It is a priority for this placements for children and young people under the age Government that these children and young people have of 16; the support, protection and care they deserve. I want to • driving up the quality of support offered in update the House on recent developments in this space. independent and semi-independent provision, through Review of Care the introduction of new national standards, and ensuring that these standards are enforced, and that young The importance of children’s social care was signalled people’s interests are appropriately represented by their in the government’s manifesto. We must challenge Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO); ourselves to do all we can in making sure every child who needs a social worker and who enters care has best • introducing new measures so that local authorities and possible chance to succeed in life – realising the benefit to local police forces liaise before a placement in such individuals and society of overcoming such adversity in provision is made; and childhood. • giving Ofsted new legal powers to act against illegal providers. That is why we are committed to undertaking a review at the earliest opportunity. I can confirm that this review We are keen to hear views on the proposals and their will be bold and broad, taking a fundamental look across impact. The consultation will be available at: children’s social care, with the aim of better supporting, https://consult.education.gov.uk/unregulated- protecting and improving the outcomes of vulnerable provision/unregulated-provision-children-in-care/. It will children and young people. be open for response until 8 April. I can confirm that we are moving forward with plans for this review, and that it will be independently led. We Jermaine Baker: Public Inquiry will ensure the review reflects the experiences of those [HLWS104] who have needed a social worker and been in care, Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the putting children, young people and their families at its Secretary of State for the Home Department (Priti Patel) centre. We will set out further details in due course. has today made the following Written Ministerial Reforms to unregulated provision for children in care Statement: and care leavers I am announcing today the establishment by the Home The review will allow for careful consideration of Office of an inquiry, under the Inquiries Act 2005, to challenges faced across children’s social care, and whilst investigate the circumstances of the death of Jermaine it is an early priority, we will take time to get this right. Baker during a Metropolitan Police Service operation on There are, however, issues that cannot wait and require 11 December 2015. immediate action. Every child and young person should Establishing an inquiry is important to ensure that all of have access to a stable and secure placement in the relevant evidence can be properly considered as part accommodation that can meet their needs and, most of an effective investigation into Mr Baker’s death. importantly, keep them safe. The Inquiry will be chaired by His Honour Clement These placements are an important step towards Goldstone QC. HH Goldstone is a retired Senior Circuit independence for older children. However, we are Judge who was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice on 21 concerned that independent and semi-independent settings March 2019 to conduct the investigation and inquest into are not always good enough, putting children and young the death of Jermaine Baker. In accordance with section people at risk. We are particularly concerned about 3(1)(a) of the Act, this inquiry will be undertaken by HH increases in the number of children under the age of 16 Goldstone alone as Chair. being placed in this type of provision, with 660 children It has been necessary to establish an inquiry so as to who were aged under 16 when their placement started permit all relevant evidence to be heard. The inquiry will placed in this provision during 2018-19. This is why we have the same scope as the current inquest, which will be are consulting on banning the use of independent and suspended after the establishment of the inquiry. Page 2 12 February 2020 Written Statements I will place a copy of the Terms of Reference for the Training in Learning Disability and Autism for all health inquiry in the Libraries of both Houses. and social care staff. This training is named after Oliver McGowan, in recognition of his story, his family’s The arrangements for the inquiry will now be a matter tireless campaigning for better training for staff, and to for the Chair. The Home Office will provide support and remember him and others whose lives were cut tragically ensure that the inquiry has the resources that it needs. short. Learning Disabilities Mortality Review The Government remains committed to gather learning from deaths reviewed under the LeDeR process ensuring [HLWS106] that measures are put in place to address the persistent Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford: My Hon. health inequalities that people with learning disabilities Friend the Minister of State for Care (Caroline Dinenage) experience. Since the start of the LeDeR programme, has made the following written statement: nearly 3,200 reviews have been completed and over 2,700 Following the publication of the third annual report are currently in progress. And while increases in the from the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) number of reviews carried out is welcome, we Programme on 21 May 2019,