HC Deb 18 March 2004 vol 419 c470W
Ms Buck

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received following the judgement of the House of Lords in the cases Rv. London borough of Barnet ex parte G, R v London borough of Lambeth ex parte W and R v. London borough of Lambeth ex parte A; and if he will make a statement. [156098]

Margaret Hodge

A representation has been received from the Director of Shelter.

The judgment of the House of Lords is consistent with the Government's understanding that councils with social services responsibilities, in discharging their duties under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, have the power to provide support towards accommodation for children in need and their families. While councils with social services responsibility do not have a specific duty in relation to the children of families who have been deemed intentionally homeless, this is consistent with the fact that they do not have such duties towards the child of any other family. The service response of a local authority will depend, in every situation, on its assessment of the needs of the child, in the context of the wider family, with assessments being carried out under the terms of the "Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families".