Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Children, was the keynote speaker today at a major London conference marking the launch of a joint publication from the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) on councillors' responsibilities as the 'corporate parents' of children in local authority care.

If this were my child - A councillor's guide to being a good corporate parent is an essential toolkit for town halls as they face the new responsibilities stemming from the government's recent Green Paper Every Child Matters and the Laming Report earlier this year.

The publication focuses on how 'corporate parenting' will evolve under the new council cabinet and scrutiny structures, exploring how councillors can be better supported in integrating their new roles and how educational achievement among children in council care can be raised. Examples of best practice are given from local authorities around the country.

Dennis Reed, Chief Executive of the LGIU, said: "Councillors around the country are accepting new responsibilities in the area of supporting looked-after children. This publication will make a contribution to giving them the tools for the job.

"The LGIU is also keen that these new responsibilities are reflected in proper investment and form part of the thinking in the government's review of local government finance. It would benefit no-one, least of all vulnerable children, if local government was set up to fail through inadequate funding."

ENDS

For further information contact:

Kevin Morton	Tel. 020 7554 2858	Mobile 07958 314846	E mail kevin.morton@lgiu.org.uk
Mary Wimbury	Tel. 020 7554 2845	Mobile 07958 521344	E mail mary.wimbury@lgiu.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) is Britain's foremost independent local democracy think tank, campaigning to extend local authority best practice, freedoms and responsibilities. Recent initiatives have included the Commission on Local Governance and the LGIU is working to influence the debate on local government modernisation. The LGIU and its education service TEN (The Education Network) also provides research, policy briefings, information, advice, training and lobbying services to 150 local authority and trade union affiliates. Previous LGIU news releases and statements can be viewed at www.lgiu.gov.uk.

2. The role of councillors as 'corporate parents' was first set out by the then Health Secretary Frank Dobson MP in a letter to all councillors in September 1998. In the letter, Frank Dobson wrote: "Elected councillors have a crucial role. Only you can carry it out. You can make sure that the interests of the children come first. You bring a fresh look and common sense. As councillors you set the strategic direction of your council's services and determine policy and priorities for your local community within the overall objectives set by government. It is the responsibility of your officers to manage services and resources in order to achieve those policy objectives and to advise your council on the best way forward. Councillors and officers need to have a good dialogue to ensure that councillors clearly understand their role and responsibilities, and that officers understand the expectations of your council."

3. Copies of If this were my child can be obtained from DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 0DJ. Telephone 0845 6022260; Fax 0845 6033360; email dfes@prolog.uk.com. Please quote ref: ITWMC.

If this were my child...