Daily roundup 11 August: Childcare website, custody figures, and abuse case

Parents affected by technical problems to the government's Childcare Service website, can now apply for compensation for "reasonable costs" incurred by delays. The site, which lets parents manage their childcare benefits, including the 30 hours of free childcare entitlement that comes into effect in September, has been beset with problems since it was launched by HM Revenue & Customs in April. Last week, former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced the treasury select committee would investigate the service.
 

The number of under-18s held in youth custody fell by three between May and June, latest figures show. Ministry of Justice data shows 924 under-18s were in custody in June, and follow rises in April and May. However, when including 18-year-olds the overall number rose by two.


Amber Rudd has warned that "political and cultural sensitivities" must not be allowed to deter work on uncovering child sex abuse, reports The Times. It said the Home Secretary was reacting to the convictions of 17 men and one woman for the sexual abuse of girls in Newcastle upon Tyne.


The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for more to be done to tackle childhood obesity. The LGA said the number of children living with Type 2 diabetes has risen by 14 per cent in the past year, to now total more than 600. Being overweight is the biggest risk factor to developing Type 2 diabetes, the association says.


Donations made since the Grenfell Tower fire in west London two months ago are not reaching survivors quickly enough, campaigners have said. Charity Commission figures show that less than 15 per cent of the £18.9m raised has been given to people who lost their homes and loved ones. The commission said there were initial difficulties contacting those affected, and others had yet to come forward, the BBC reports.