DfE refuses to release controversial study on outsourcing children's services

Children's minister Edward Timpson commissioned a report in March 2014 to "look at developing capacity for delivering children’s services outside of local authorities". The report was due to be completed by September 2014. CYP Now formally requested a copy on 13 November 2015.

The research, which was conducted by Professor Julian Le Grand from the London School of Economics, alongside an expert panel including chief children's social worker Isabelle Trowler and former president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, Alan Wood, was viewed by some in the sector as a study to assess the potential for privatising children's services.

According to FOI legislation, a response must be provided within 20 working days of the request, but the DfE has extended this by an additional 20 days on four separate occasions, claiming that it required the additional time in order to decide whether releasing the information was "in the public interest".

Following intervention from the Information Commissioner’s Office, the DfE has now decided that while releasing the information is in the public interest, it is exempt from doing so because it intends to publish it "at some future date".

"It is acknowledged that there is a general public interest in disclosure because of the need for there to be open and transparent government and that the sharing of information with the public should be free and open," a DfE spokesperson said.