18. To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to improve standards of children’s social care; and if he will make a statement. (279176)

We are taking a number of steps to improve children’s social care. We are improving the skills and capacity of the work force, supported by an extra £73 million and have set up the Social Work Task Force.

We have accepted all the recommendations in Lord Laming’s report on safeguarding and have published a detailed action plan to implement these.

We are also implementing our “Care Matters” programme to improve the support given to children in care.