Member

Noble Lords made points about funding. I will resist the temptation to comment on how noble Lords opposite have come to the significance of funding only at this point, notwithstanding the very difficult funding position that children’s social care has found itself in over the past 14 years. To be clear about the commitment that this Government are making, the local government finance settlement for 2025-26 granted councils in England access to over £69 billion in funding—a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25. Included within that, local authorities are receiving £5.9 billion through the social care grant to support adult and children’s social care. That is an increase of £880 million compared with 2024-25.