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Minister backs plans to relax council duties to vulnerable children

2 mins read Education Social Care Coronavirus
The government will not row back on plans to relax local authorities' statutory duties to vulnerable young people, including care leavers, children’s minister Vicky Ford has said.
Vicky Ford answered questions over videolink. Picture: Parliament TV
Vicky Ford answered questions over videolink. Picture: Parliament TV

Answering questions from the Education Select Committee, Ford said that during this “unprecedented time” there would be “focus on giving flexibility to lower risk areas, so that local authorities can focus on core safeguarding areas”.

The minister said, during the first-ever Education Select Committee meeting to be held remotely, that new guidance on the legislation is set to be released “shortly” yet did not give a specific timeframe for this.

She added that supporting care leavers was a “priority” for the government, noting that on Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that looked-after children turning 18 during the crisis would not be forced to leave their placement immediately.

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