An extra £80 million is to be invested in drug treatment services across England to give more support to offenders with drink and drug addictions, as part of an overall £148 million package to cut crime and protect people from the menace of illegal drugs.
Employers will have a greater say in the development of skills training as part of reforms to post-16 technical education set out in a new White Paper, ‘Skills for jobs’.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has urged councils to scrutinise services for children in care.
Extra funding has been announced by the Chancellor in the Spending Review to help councils support people at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping during COVID-19.
The Government has put forward its new legislative programme, with a wide range of measures set out in the Queen’s Speech to Parliament including around planning, jobs and skills, health and care reform, environment, climate change and building safety.
Nearly all councils in England have reported a fall in applications for primary school places, according to a survey by the Press Association.
The Prime Minster has launched a new £3 billion Bus Strategy aimed at tackling the fragmented bus service market and reforming the fare system.
The LGA has praised the work of school leaders and councils in switching overnight to remote learning for pupils, after the latest lockdown was announced on 4 January.
A new charter giving social housing tenants in England a greater voice and making landlords more accountable has been announced by the Government.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a further £203 million for councils to help get rough sleepers off the streets and into safe accommodation.