MPs say funding is short for integrated services

The Government's goal of creating fully integrated children's services outlined in Every Child Matters 'will fail to be realised without significant and sustained additional investment', an influential committee of MPs warned last week. The Commons Education and Skills Select Committee said, 'We are doubtful that a policy as ambitious as Every Child Matters can be funded in the main from existing budgets.' It called for 'additional dedicated resources, cross-departmentally and ring-fenced if appropriate' to enable its successful implementation.