Local authorities will have "no excuse" to "skimp" on funding social work, despite cuts to council grant funding, the junior children's minister has warned.

Speaking at the launch of Professor Eileen Munro's review into children's social work, Tim Loughton told CYP Now that councils would have to use their resources more effectively.

"We are removing a number of ringfences around allocations," he said. "But it doesn't mean they stop providing services. It means there's greater flexibility for local authorities to decide how best to maximise the funds that they are getting. We've made it very clear to local authorities that safeguarding children is a very high priority. It's not an area where local authorities will be skimping or neglecting."

Reacting to the launch of Munro's review, Marion Davis, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, said social work could be improved if resources were focused on supporting professionals to spend more time working with children, young people and their families. But she warned that Ofsted inspections would need to be reformed.

"Reducing red tape should allow for reinvestment in the services that make a difference, she explained. "This will, in turn, require a more flexible regulation system that can support and monitor the quality of practice, whatever structures and processes are used."

Sir Paul Ennals, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, added that Munro is right to focus on reducing bureaucracy and strengthening early intervention as part of her review, but he said that services are facing big cuts.

"We know from years of research and experience that it is early intervention which proves to be the cheapest and most effective way of protecting children and reducing inequalities," he said. "But despite this evidence, early intervention services are at greatest risk in the current recession."

Shaun Kelly, head of safeguarding at Action for Children, argued that Munro's review must not tinker with the current system unnecessarily.

"This review should not be about change for change's sake but look at what works, and should be retained, within the current system and what needs to be improved," he said. "This would help to develop lasting solutions for professionals and especially for children."

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, added that the review must go beyond simply reducing bureaucracy. "The review must consider the role social work professionals can play in reducing and preventing family breakdown, child poverty and social dysfunction as well as helping families come out the other side," she said.

Watch a video of Tim Loughton, Eileen Munro and a social worker talking about the review.