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A £410 million boost to children’s services is only half what councils need, it has emerged.

Chancellor Philip Hammond pumped £650million into social care in the Budget, with two-thirds effectively earmarked for children.

But figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility show local authorities overspent by £800 million on child social care last year – twice the amount being made available now.

Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “The most vulnerable children will continue to suffer for years to come.”

(Image: MDM)

The British Association of Social Workers said: “Yet again children have been forgotten.”

Government funding to ­councils has been slashed by almost 50 per cent since 2010.