We've also identified a range of research to address gaps in the evidence around care-experienced children and young people. In December, we will be publishing an important piece of research about the number of children placed into care from parents with a learning disability.

I'm also pleased to report we're progressing a programme of work around corporate parenting, which David is leading. This is about strengthening responsibilities for children looked after across all public services. My Cabinet colleagues will remember a recent discussion at Cabinet about what we're taking forward, and I was very grateful for the cross-Government support received. I will keep Members updated as this work progresses.

All too often, we hear about the unmet need of children with very complex and challenging behaviours. I'm pleased that the children's residential care task and finish group, a sub-group of the ministerial advisory group, has been considering how best to develop capacity to meet the needs of these children. At the advice of the task and finish group, we're about to begin a focused piece of work on developing options for the small cohort of children whose needs cannot be met solely in in-patient mental health or other types of secure accommodation. 

Even in this very challenging financial climate, we continue to make significant investment into improving outcomes for children. Most recently, we have increased the integrated care fund by £15 million. This is a ring-fenced annual allocation for services that support children at the edge of care to prevent them from becoming looked-after, as well as projects to provide support for children who are care experienced and/or adopted. This is in addition to the £659 million spend overall on children and families services by local authorities.

So, I am pleased with the progress we are making, but I'm not complacent. Our recently published statistics show us that the number of children looked after by local authorities is still increasing. In 2018-19, the number rose by a further 7 per cent, taking it to 6,846. This is something we are actively working to address, and I'll say more about that shortly. But, there is a note of optimism. It's important to note that, for the second year running, the number of children starting to become looked-after has decreased. I'm hoping that we're now beginning to see the results of the investment in our prevention and early intervention services, and all the work of the group that David is chairing. I want this trend to continue—this downward trend. To do this, we are working with local authorities and other partners to make whole-system improvements so that services are delivered that provide timely and early help to families so that, wherever possible, they are supported to stay together.

You'll all be aware of the First Minister's clear commitment to reducing the number of children removed from their families, being placed out of county and out of Wales, and removed from parents with a learning disability. We've been working hard to deliver this by working closely with every local authority to develop plans to achieve the First Minister's priorities. From the outset, and throughout this journey, I've been absolutely clear that we take a safety-first approach here in Wales—nothing overrides the need to protect children.

All local authorities have submitted reduction expectation plans tailored to their own populations and demography, and we are in the process of receiving the first quarterly updates. I am actively supporting this work by holding conversations with partners who are key contributors and can influence a whole-system approach, for example, Mr Justice Francis, the family liaison judge for Wales; the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Cymru; and some council leaders. We're having very productive discussions with those people.

The recent national learning and peer support event I mentioned earlier provided a valuable opportunity for local authorities and key partners to come together and share their knowledge and experience in relation to looked-after children, including the good practice in those authorities that have managed to buck the general trend and reduce the numbers of children looked after over time. There is an opportunity to continue this peer-learning arrangement. And alongside our local government partners, we're looking to establish a more formal peer-support network to take this work forward. Attending this conference, I was absolutely struck by the buzz of enthusiasm and determination about those people in the room to do their best for the children that we have the privilege to be looking after. 

Before we start the debate, I wanted to say something about the amendments, which I'm very pleased to accept. Rhun ap Iorwerth's amendments make very important points about poverty and austerity, rebalancing the system in favour of a preventative approach and targets. I think there is a wealth of evidence that shows the impact that poverty and austerity have on children and families. But we also know that the numbers of children in care have been rising for at least 10 years before austerity began, so there are other factors too, such as variations between local authorities in policy and practice.

The work we are taking forward with local authorities and key partners is designed to help develop practice and facilitate the sharing of learning, so that we can meet our shared objectives of safely reducing the numbers of children in care.

In terms of the system, our whole legislative framework and the guiding principles of the improving outcomes for children programme is about shifting the balance of care towards an early intervention and preventative approach. The First Minister has said—and I'm sure we'll agree—that we should prioritise repair rather than rescue. We've seen, for two years running now, as I said earlier, a decrease in the numbers of children starting to become looked-after, which we can link to the investment we have made in early intervention and prevention services.

And finally, on targets, I'm very pleased to say that we have worked in a co-productive way with local authorities and key partners. Rather than Welsh Government imposing binding targets, local authorities have proposed their own specific bespoke strategies, and there are no plans for punitive action if the targets proposed are not met. I've made this clear to local authorities from the beginning. I think it's also important to note that the Children's Commissioner for Wales has recently acknowledged that she is supportive of the Welsh Government's approach in designing and delivering this work, and she has recognised our safety-first approach. So, I am pleased to accept the three amendments put forward by Plaid Cymru. Thank you.