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Responding to the latest ONS figures published today on teenage pregnancies in England and Wales for 2018, which shows that the conception rate for women under 18 has decreased for the eleventh year in a row, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “The halving of teenage pregnancy rates over the last two decades is a tribute to the hard work of councils and their partners, in helping to improve the health, wellbeing and life chances of young people. “We need to build upon these achievements and tackle health inequalities in more

“It is absolutely vital that the Autumn Statement ensures that children’s services are adequately funded so councils can meet this rising demand and ensure children and their families get the support they need, as soon as they need it."

“We support the ambition of the independent review of children’s social care to make sure children, including those in care, grow up in loving, stable and safe environments.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to the Public Health England announcement that the HPV vaccine will be extended to boys from this September.

Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Judith Blake, responds to a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation which says that children leaving custody are being ‘set up to fail’ through lack of support.

“We support the call for a joined-up, whole government approach which addresses the fragmented funding streams and helps councils to create communities in which young people thrive."

“We are pleased that the Government has recognised the importance of supporting the return of good experienced social workers back into the profession."

"Ninety children a day entered care in the last year, and councils saw the biggest annual increase of children in care since 2010. "

"Councils have played a pivotal role in making the Supporting Families programme a success for some of the most vulnerable families, so it is good that local authorities continue to receive this funding to support this vital service for the coming year as it enters its next phase."

“While we support the premise of testing before term restarts, it is crucial that all secondary schools are properly supported and able to effectively administer these tests without significant disruption to the children’s learning."