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Written question asked by Helen Hayes (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 March 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 March 2024 (named day). It was answered by David Johnston (Conservative) on Friday, 22 March 2024 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Children: Care Homes

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.25(3) of the Spring Budget 2024, HC 560, published on 6 March 2024, how much and what proportion of the £165 million funding for the children’s homes estate will be spent on (a) new children’s homes, (b) rebuilding children’s homes and (c) repairing existing children's homes in each local authority area; and if she will make an estimate of the number of new places that will be created.

Answer

In the Spring Budget, the department was awarded £165 million capital funding to invest in open and secure children’s homes. This consists of £45 million match funding to local authorities to create 200 new open children’s home (OCH) placements for the most vulnerable children, and £120 million to fund the maintenance of the existing secure children’s home (SCH) estate and rebuild Atkinson SCH and Swanwick SCH.

It will be for local authorities in receipt of this OCH match funding to decide how best to deliver these additional 200 placements to meet the needs of the children they look after.

The department will work with Atkinson and Swanwick SCHs and other SCHs to determine the number of places and maintenance required to meet current and future needs of the individual SCHs and the SCH estate as a whole. The department will then allocate the £120 million to the SCHs on this basis.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17452
Session
2023-24
Related items
Spring Budget 2024
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
House of Commons papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Children Care homes Finance
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk