Tories under Cameron slashed support for children by nearly £1 billion, say Labour

Spending on children’s services was slashed by nearly £1 billion under David Cameron, according to Labour.

The party’s shadow education secretary Angela Rayner expressed concern, saying the Local Government Association has forecast that children’s services face a £2 billion funding gap by 2020.

Labour said Education Department figures showed spending on Sure Start and early years programmes fell by more than £650 million between 2010-11 and 2015-16.

Funding for looked-after children also dropped in the same period, despite a surge in numbers of youngsters in need, Labour said.

Ms Rayner (pictured) said: “These figures, buried in a Government data dump, show that the Tories have slashed support for the children who need it the most.

“It is another sign that this Government is failing to support families struggling to get by, as well as the most vulnerable children in our society.

“We now have record numbers of children going in to care or subject to child protection plans but instead of reversing these cuts, the Chancellor went ahead with another tax giveaway to the banks and clawed back a £750 million under-spend on tax-free childcare.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “More than £200 billion will be available to councils for local services up to 2020, and councils increased spending on children and young people’s services to over £9 billion in 2015-16.

“Our £200 million Innovation Programme is helping develop new and better ways of delivering children’s services.

“As part of this, we have announced up to £20 million to support further improvement in children’s social care services.”

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