CHILDREN'S SERVICES IN LEEDS

That this House notes with deep concern the poor performance of Leeds City Council reported in the Ofsted Report on Children's Services in May 2009; deplores the findings in subsequent reports in November and December 2009 which state that vulnerable children were being put at potential risk of significant harm owing to the high caseload of social workers; applauds the work of the Children's Minister with Leeds City Council in attempting to remedy the situation; calls on the Minister to monitor closely any improvements in order to protect vulnerable children in Leeds; and further calls on Leeds City Council to make protecting children its highest priority.