To ask the Minister for Communities what steps his Department (i) has taken; and (ii) will take to implement Recommendation 47 of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care by Professor Ray Jones.

As the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care does not fall within the remit of my Department, I have not taken steps to implement Recommendation 47 of the Review.

However, in the spirit of cross departmental collaboration, I will work with my Executive colleagues to progress any actions relevant to my Department in relation to the implementation of this Recommendation.

My department leads for the Executive on the strategic relationship with the Voluntary and Community Sector, through facilitating and co-chairing the Joint Forum between all of Government, including local government and the Sector.

The Joint Forum has developed a successor to the 2011 Concordat, which will take the form of a fresh Partnership Agreement, seeking a commitment from all departments and their agencies to improved practices; including engagement, commissioning and funding approaches that are fair and sustainable, and which recognise the importance and value of the community sector.

I expect that work to be completed before the Summer Recess.