Research by the Local Government Association (LGA) and Newton reveals how deprivation accounts for half the variation in spending on children's services between councils (see Analysis). The LGA and children's services leaders believe the findings could be a game changer in their bids to lobby the government for more money for children's services. Crucially, they say it "kicks into the long grass" the argument put forward by successive ministers that variation in spend reflects inefficiencies and poor practice among councils.
Even armed with the Newton research, it will be hard for council leaders to change ministers' minds. However, the recent reports by the Care Crisis Review and Institute for Fiscal Studies add to the weight of evidence on the deepening financial problem in the sector.
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