§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the levels of boarding-out allowances being paid by local authorities to foster parents; and what further discussions he has had with local authorities about a national minimum scale.
§ Sir George YoungThe levels of these allowances are rightly for local authorities to determine and there have been no discussions with the local authority associations since my reply to the hon. Member on 29 April 1980—[Vol. 983, c.504–20.] The number of children boarded out by local authorities in England has risen from 29,400 on 31 March 1974 to 34,300 on 31 March 1979 and there is every indication that this welcome trend is continuing.