When Allen published his report seven years ago, the amount spent on care was £2.9bn. Last month, the bill topped £4bn for the first time. The reasons for this rise are well documented - looked-after children numbers are at record levels, care applications have been high for three years and the number of "live" cases being dealt with by the family courts has also risen 12 per cent in the past year, according to Cafcass chief executive Anthony Douglas (see Analysis).
Amid the rise in demand, the amount spent on children's services has fallen by £1bn in real terms according to analysis by Labour. Council spending on early help has taken the brunt of this cut with children's charities predicting a 72 per cent fall by 2020.
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