Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Vulnerable Children: Support

Monday 7 February 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Robert Halfon inquired about discussions on support for vulnerable children with the Secretary of State for Education.
  • Robert Halfon highlighted that 41% of care leavers aged 19 to 21 are not in education, employment, or training.
  • Dave Doogan mentioned the Scottish Government's plan to double the Scottish child payment to 20 a week per child from April.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robert Halfon Con
Children & Families
Context

The MP inquired about discussions on supporting vulnerable children, specifically mentioning an Education Committee inquiry into educational outcomes and opportunities of children in care. The committee noted that 41% of care leavers aged 19 to 21 are not in education, employment or training.

Question

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on support for vulnerable children. My right hon. Friend will be aware that our Education Committee is doing an inquiry into the educational outcomes and opportunities of children in care. We know that 41% of care leavers aged 19 to 21 are not in education, employment or training. I welcome the Government's bursary scheme, but a care leaver over the age of 21 is eligible to receive the bursary for apprenticeships only if they are in education, employment or training. Will my right hon. Friend look into the policy and work with colleagues across Government to see what more can be done to support the 59% of care leavers not eligible for this support?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I welcome my right hon. Friend's passion for this particular group of people looking to find work. This is really a matter for the Secretary of State for Education, but the information I have been provided is that all care leavers aged up to 25 who take up an apprenticeship are considered to be in education or training and therefore would be eligible for the bursary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not fully addressed as it avoided discussing what more can be done to support those care leavers not currently eligible for this support.

How: This Is Really A Matter For The Secretary Of State For Education

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Q2 Robert Halfon Con
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP inquired about discussions on supporting vulnerable children, specifically mentioning an Education Committee inquiry into educational outcomes and opportunities of children in care. The committee noted that 41% of care leavers aged 19 to 21 are not in education, employment or training.

Question

My right hon. Friend will be aware that our Education Committee is doing an inquiry into the educational outcomes and opportunities of children in care. We know that 41% of care leavers aged 19 to 21 are not in education, employment or training. I welcome the Government's bursary scheme, but a care leaver over the age of 21 is eligible to receive the bursary for apprenticeships only if they are in education, employment or training. Will my right hon. Friend look into the policy and work with colleagues across Government to see what more can be done to support the 59% of care leavers not eligible for this support?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I welcome my right hon. Friend's passion for this particular group of people looking to find work. This is really a matter for the Secretary of State for Education, but the information I have been provided is that all care leavers aged up to 25 who take up an apprenticeship are considered to be in education or training and therefore would be eligible for the bursary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not fully addressed as it avoided discussing what more can be done to support those care leavers not currently eligible for this support.

How: This Is Really A Matter For The Secretary Of State For Education

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Q3 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Scotland Children & Families
Context

The Scottish Government are doubling the Scottish child payment to £20 a week per child. This, together with other benefits such as the Best Start grant and Best Start Foods, provides financial support worth £8,400 by the time eligible families' first child turns six.

Question

From April, the Scottish Government are doubling the Scottish child payment to £20 a week per child. The Scottish child payment, together with the Best Start grant and Best Start Foods, will provide a package of financial support worth £8,400 by the time eligible families' first child turns six. None of this support is available anywhere else in the UK. Have the UK Government considered matching the level of support that the SNP Scottish Government are offering to families with children in Scotland?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I do not think we have undertaken that assessment. Of course, a benefit of being part of the United Kingdom is the subsequent extra money per head that is given through the Barnett formula, and the Scottish Government can decide what to do with that. I am sure they will be carefully costing their independence things, or that sort of financial support will simply not be there.

Not addressed: The specific ask was entirely avoided as it shifted focus to the Barnett formula and potential Scottish independence costs rather than addressing the level of support for families with children in Scotland.

How: This Is Really A Matter For The Secretary Of State For Education, The Benefit Of Being Part Of The United Kingdom

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