House of Commons · Urgent Question
01 April 2025 · 26 other contributors
Opened by Munira Wilson LD Twickenham
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Munira Wilson raised concerns about adoption and special guardianship support fund 2025-04-01 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Will the Minister confirm whether the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will continue, given the uncertainty and anxiety it has caused for vulnerable children, their adoptive parents, and kinship carers? The delay in confirming this funding has had a significant impact on families waiting to renew applications for therapeutic support.
Question
While I welcome the Minister's announcement, what impact has there been on families due to the delay in confirming funding? Can the Minister confirm how long the £50 million will last and whether Ministers are considering expanding eligibility criteria for kinship carers?
Minister reply
I appreciate the concern caused by the delay. Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, local authorities have a statutory duty to provide support services for adopted children. The plan is for the fund to open to kinship carers as well.
Question
Will the Minister ensure that those impacted by the gap in funding will have additional support, and will she ensure that the Treasury signs off funding ahead of deadlines?
Minister reply
The Government remain committed to adopted children and those in kinship placements or with special guardianships. We will continue to work together to ensure sufficient timely funding is in place.
Question
When was the decision made? Can the Minister explain why this has happened and why the Government could not confirm the future of a £50,000-a-year programme sooner?
Minister reply
We are now able to confirm that there will be £50 million for the adoption and special guardianship support fund for 2025-26. Further details will be announced shortly.
Question
How can we ensure that this does not happen again? How can we guarantee certainty for these groups serving vulnerable constituents?
Minister reply
Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, local authorities have a statutory duty to provide support services for adopted children. The Government will continue to support local authorities in fulfilling this duty.
Question
Will the Minister work with the Treasury to find a long-term settlement so that vulnerable children receive stable care and support?
Minister reply
The Department has been clear about transitional funding arrangements, allowing therapy from the last financial year to continue into 2025-26. However, I would suggest focusing on past governance issues within his own party.
Question
Will the Minister ensure that all kinship families receive stable, long-term financial and emotional support tailored to their unique needs?
Minister reply
Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, local authorities have a statutory duty to provide support services for adopted children. The Government will continue to support these services.
Question
Does the Minister agree that more people should be encouraged to adopt and not discouraged by financial concerns? Does she also agree that those who are self-employed should receive similar financial support as biological parents?
Minister reply
Since 2015, over £400 million has helped nearly 53,000 children. We aim to encourage more adoptions and address financial barriers.
Question
Does the Minister agree that kinship children should have equal opportunities? Will she work with the APPG on longer-term funding planning?
Minister reply
I remain committed to working closely with the APPG on kinship care.
Question
What steps are being taken to speed up applications? Will there be a longer-term funding settlement?
Minister reply
Further details will be announced in coming days, and we aim to open the fund for applications as soon as possible.
Question
Will adopted children receive the support they deserve? Is there a commitment to ensure secure long-term homes?
Minister reply
Our aim is to provide the best home for a child so that they can grow, learn, play and thrive.
Question
Can the Minister provide clarity on ongoing funding in future years?
Minister reply
We have confirmed £50 million for 2025-26 and are committed to providing timely support.
Question
Will the spending review provide more assurance on funding for children’s social care?
Minister reply
We work closely with Departments within our Government and Treasury to ensure adequate funding.
Question
Can the Minister assure us that funding will continue year after year?
Minister reply
The Government has no plans at this time to prevent funding from continuing.
Question
Will it be up to county councils to apply for the funding? When will extra funding reach families?
Minister reply
We are ensuring that roll-out takes place straightaway.
Question
Will Northern Ireland kinship children and adoptees benefit from the fund? Are best practices being shared with the Northern Ireland Executive?
Minister reply
Good practice is always shared across devolved nations, but I will endeavour to get back on specific points.
Question
Is the Government considering expanding the fund’s remit?
Minister reply
We are not looking to expand the fund but it is available to kinship carers.
Question
Would the Minister like to apologise for distress caused by uncertainty? Will funding continue in future years?
Minister reply
We are pleased to announce funding for 2025-26 and have no intention of ending it.
Question
Due to funding uncertainty, my Havering constituent has not been able to access sensory therapy for her adopted son. Will the Minister provide assurance that resources will be put into processing any backlog in applications so that adopted children do not miss out on critical support?
Minister reply
We are really pleased about the £50 million announcement and we are working and further information will come out as soon as possible regarding the funding.
Question
Can the Minister assure me that any future difficult decisions needed in this area will benefit vulnerable children more than they benefit Elon Musk?
Minister reply
We will continue to support adopted children. According to the Adoption and Children Act 2002, there is a statutory duty for local authorities to do that.
Question
Does the Minister recognise the burden for families of being put on hold for so long? Will she confirm that support will go forward, beyond this year?
Minister reply
As I have already said, this Government have no intention of getting rid of the funding in future years. It is down there in law that support needs to be given to adoptive families and indeed we are giving that support to children placed in special guardianships and to kinship carers.
Question
Does the Minister not appreciate that this damages our great need to recruit more people to be adoptive parents, which does the state a great service and the children themselves the best possible service?
Minister reply
There are many families, people or couples who wish to adopt, and I encourage them still to consider including a child in their family and in their life.
Question
Can the Minister guarantee future funding? Will she also acknowledge that such therapies fill huge gaps but barely touch the sides in mental health and special educational needs provision in schools, which is not funded properly?
Minister reply
I think I have already answered that question, but I say again that there are many excellent therapies out there that are absolutely necessary for children.
Question
What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the fund on ensuring that adoptions can continue, and will she make that information publicly available?
Minister reply
I look forward to speaking to the hon. Member during his Adjournment debate—I am sure that he will ask me many more questions, as is absolutely appropriate.
Question
Will she do everything in her power to ensure that local authorities are signposting adoptive parents to the support of this fund and the eligibility for it? Secondly, taking into account her comment that she has “no plans” to prevent the fund continuing, will she and her Department ensure that the announcement is made no later than September on the funding of the scheme in future financial years?
Minister reply
This Government absolutely support this fund and this funding being made available. If the hon. Member would like to share any more information regarding the 15-year-old and the family’s experience of lack of support, I would welcome him to do so.
Question
How will the Minister ensure that the lack of a decision, and the hesitation, will not add to their sense of abandonment?
Minister reply
I share those concerns, and the Government will continue to work to ensure that the support services are in place for all children who need it.
Government Response
I welcome the opportunity to respond to this urgent question. The adoption and special guardianship support fund has provided valuable therapeutic support for many years, supporting adopted children and those in special guardianships who were previously in care. Funding over this period has helped families towards a stable family life. I recognise that the delay in confirming the continuation of the fund has been difficult for many, especially children and families in need. However, appropriate transitional funding arrangements have been agreed to allow therapy from the last financial year to continue into 2025-26 ahead of full budget announcements. £50 million has been allocated for this year’s support fund, with further details to be announced shortly.