Member

We understand that some local authorities need to place a child quickly. We are very often talking about crisis situations. Too often, a crisis that seems to come to a head on a Friday afternoon leads to some very difficult decisions. We have to be clear, though, that all providers of accommodation for children should be registered with Ofsted to avoid the unfortunate circumstances that we have heard noble Lords speak to so eloquently. We are helping local authorities meet their sufficiency duty by investing over £130 million in fostering hubs, kinship care and providing additional funding for children’s homes. I hope I have given some reassurance, but we are not complacent in any way, shape or form about this vital area that we are seeking to address through the Bill.