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Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

I support Amendment No. 30. I put my name down to this amendment when it was alone and palely loitering and prepared three pages of speech to make to it, but I fear that they are no longer required. The important thing is that the amendment refers specifically to disabled children; it is the only one in this grouping that does so, which from my point of view makes it the most important of the four amendments. The amendment would require local authorities to increase the supply of suitable accommodation available locally in line with local need and to ensure that the overall aim of Clause 8—that children looked after by a local authority stay in their local area—is properly met. It would therefore ensure that the capacity for suitable accommodation is developed over time. Out-of-area placements are of course sometimes necessary but they are expensive and disruptive and they increase children’s vulnerability. By accepting the amendment, the Government could reduce the need for out-of-area placements and increase the welfare of disabled children and all children who need accommodation to be provided by their local authority. I hope that the Minister will agree to support the amendment and, possibly, the other amendments, too.