Foster Care

Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of fee payments to foster carers; how many foster carers receive no fee payment; how many foster carers are dependent on state benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dhanda
All foster carers receive an allowance which covers the full cost of caring for a child. In addition many foster carers receive a fee. The Fostering Network estimates that approximately 60 per cent. of foster carers receive a fee for their work.

All local authorities determine their own fee structures. Information about fee levels are not collected or monitored centrally.

Information regarding the number of foster carers in receipt of state benefits is not recorded centrally.

Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to set up a transformation fund for local authorities to enable them to make fee payments to foster carers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dhanda
According to information providing by The Fostering Network, approximately 60 per cent. of foster carers are already paid a fee. It is for local authorities to determine their own fee structures. The factors which contribute to decisions about fee levels are complex but may, for example, include: the skills, training and experience of the carer; the needs of the child; and the carer's ability to take up paid employment.

Our future agenda for supporting foster carers will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.

Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will include in the White Paper following Care Matters proposals for a registration scheme for foster carers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dhanda
The forthcoming White Paper on children in care will set out the Government's proposals for delivery across services for children in care. It will follow on from the proposals published in the Care Matters Green Paper, including in relation to the registration of foster carers.

Mr. Kidney
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will include in the forthcoming White Paper following Care Matters provision for national standards for fee payments to foster carers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dhanda
The forthcoming White Paper on children in care will set out the Government's proposals for delivery across services for children in care. It will follow on from the proposals published in the Care Matters Green Paper, including those in relation to support for foster carers.