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"Tackling domestic abuse is an issue that councils take very seriously and we look forward to the Government’s commitment to transforming the response to domestic abuse in its forthcoming Bill."

“Protecting our most clinically vulnerable people has been councils’ number one priority throughout the pandemic."

"Nearly a third of all deaths in care homes involved coronavirus and we need to do all we can to keep drastically reducing this. The Government’s announcement today of regular testing of care home residents and staff will help with preventing the spread of infection, but we must remain vigilant."

"We need a cross-departmental government plan to tackle homelessness with long-term investment in prevention and services to support economically vulnerable people and households to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place."

"These figures act as a truly tragic reminder of how many people, including those who are older and vulnerable, have lost their lives during the pandemic, leaving behind family and friends in mourning."

The latest ONS figures showing social care workers are twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than healthcare workers.

Cllr Linda Thomas, Vice Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to quarterly figures on teenage pregnancies in England and Wales, published today by the Office for National Statistics.

“Devolving careers advice, post-16 and skills budgets and powers to local areas, would allow councils, schools, colleges and employers to work together to improve provision for young people so that they can get on in life.”

Councils have shouldered more than their fair share of austerity and have tried to reduce any impact on residents, but there is only so much they can do and the financial challenges they face are growing. More and more councils are struggling to balance their books and others are considering whether they have the funding to even deliver their statutory requirements

"The harm loneliness can cause, both physically and mentally, can be devastating to people of all ages - it is a serious public health concern which studies suggest can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day."