Janet Daby MP: speeches

Speeches

• 16 Jun 2025 · Adoption: Children in Foster Care · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for her question and for the concern she has expressed. The adoption and special guardianship support fund has not been cut. Demand is ever increasing, and we have chosen an approach to manage tight resources in the face of increasing demand for support. The adoption and special guardianship support fund still enables those eligible to access a significant package of therapeutic support tailored to meet their individual needs.

• 12 Jun 2025 · SEND Funding · Hansard source

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  The Government are very much committed to early intervention and prevention work.

• 20 May 2025 · Adoption and Kinship Placements · Hansard source

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  I will give way to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Tom Gordon) first.

• 20 May 2025 · Adoption and Kinship Placements · Hansard source

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  We have invested a further £8.8 million in Adoption England, £5 million of which will go towards centres of excellence. On local authorities, Members will be aware of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. They will also be aware that we are investing in early prevention and intervention work in local authorities. In doing so, we are trying to support families through kinship arrangements. Members will also be aware that we have committed £40 million to a pilot for kinship care.

• 28 Apr 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I hear the concerns around the adoption and special guardianship support fund. We have had to make some really difficult decisions, but we have chosen the fairest approach to manage tight resources in the face of increasing demand for support. We will continue to review the situation.

• 28 Apr 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  As my hon. Friend will be aware, we are providing £50 million through the adoption and special guardianship support fund. We are also funding Adoption England with £8.8 million to improve adoption services. This includes new support for the first 12 to 18 months after placement and better support for families in crisis. Adoptive families may also access mainstream family health services, and we are doubling the investment in these services to over £500 million.

• 3 Apr 2025 · Adoption Breakdown · Hansard source

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  Yes, I know Home for Good; I have met the people involved and they do excellent work on fostering and adoption. There is so much more that could be done, so I absolutely take on board what the hon. Member has mentioned.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  The hon. Member has given me something to think about, so I thank her for that. I congratulate her on being an adoptive auntie. Since 2015, over £400 million has helped support nearly 53,000 children who have received therapeutic support. I agree that more people should consider being adopters and that their financial situation should not prevent them from being able to adopt.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I have sort of already answered my hon. Friend’s question. We will ensure that we look at the matter straightaway and that the roll-out takes place straightaway.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I look forward to speaking to the hon. Member during his Adjournment debate—I am sure that he will ask me many more questions, as is absolutely appropriate. I would say that this should not prevent people from coming forward to adopt children, and that children will still get the support they need and so rightly deserve.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  This Government absolutely support this fund and this funding being made available. If the hon. Member would like to share any more information regarding the 15-year-old and the family’s experience of lack of support, I would welcome him to do so.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I absolutely agree that such decisions need to be made in a timely fashion. The Department and my officials are working at pace with the new information, and I very much appreciate the concern that the delay in this announcement has caused. We need to get on with the job to make sure that we can start ensuring the children’s therapies can continue and begin.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  For clarity, I have not said that we are looking to expand the fund—that is important. However, we are delighted to confirm £50 million for the fund, and it is available to kinship carers as well. I am sure my hon. Friend is aware that there is a lot of focus from this Government on kinship care, and I would be happy to fill him in on further details on that.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  As I have already said, this Government have no intention of getting rid of the funding in future years. It is down there in law that support needs to be given to adoptive families and, indeed, we are giving that support to children placed in special guardianships and to kinship carers.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  As I have already said, I am delighted that we are now able to confirm that there will be £50 million for the adoption and special guardianship support fund for ’25-26. We will announce further details to the House in coming days, and we will open up the fund for applications as soon as possible.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for his question and pay tribute to his constituents. This Government have no plans at this time to prevent the funding from continuing. As I have said, under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, local authorities have a statutory duty to have support services in place for adopted children.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  Good practice is always being shared across our devolved nations. On the other point that the hon. Lady mentions, I will endeavour to get back to her.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for all her comments. I assure her that I remain committed to working with the APPG on kinship care.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  We have no intention of ending the funding. What I will say is that we are pleased that we can announce the funding for 2025-26.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for sharing that information regarding John. I would like to think that many children are being protected from certain information so that it does not cause them further anxiety. I am delighted that we have been able to confirm that there will be £50 million for the adoption and special guardianship support fund for 2025-26, and I absolutely understand the need to ensure that such funding is ongoing and delivered in a timely manner.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  There are many families, people or couples who wish to adopt, and I encourage them still to consider including a child in their family and in their life. I will also say, as I have said before, that local authorities have a duty to support adopted children, and no adoptive person or couple should ever not adopt for financial reasons. Obviously, they also undertake an assessment to make sure they are suitable.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for her concern and her lobbying. Many Members and organisations have lobbied me on this matter. I appreciate all of the therapeutic providers up and down our country, especially the one in her constituency. Under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, local authorities have a statutory duty to have support services in place for adopted children. As a Government, we will continue to support local authorities to do that.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  The Government remain committed to adopted children and children who are in kinship placements or have special guardianships. The Government will continue to work together to make sure that sufficient funding is in place and is more timely.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I congratulate the hon. Member on being a grandfather of six, and I hear the concerns he has raised. I share those concerns, and the Government will continue to work to ensure that the support services are in place for all children who need it, including those who are involved with this funding.

• 1 Apr 2025 · Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund · Hansard source

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  I understand the political points being made here. What I will say is that we are really pleased about the £50 million announcement. We are working and further information will come out as soon as possible regarding the funding.