§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has(a) to promote foster care, with particular reference to advertising campaigns, and (b) to encourage people to become foster carers. [164193]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 1 April 2004]: We will be spending £1.5m of the Choice Protects Grant in 2004–05 to develop a number of suggestions from the Green Paper to improve the status, support and training for foster carers. These include the development of a national award and a national helpline.
40WWe have recently produced a Fostering Publicity Pack designed to heir local authority fostering teams to run targeted local campaigns to recruit new foster carers for looked after children. We have also announced a three-year grant to support Foster Care Fortnight.
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will increase payments to foster carers. [164195]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 1 April 2004]: The National Minimum Standards for fostering services clearly require that: Each foster carer receives an allowance and agreed expenses, which cover the full cost of caring for each child or young person placed with him or her. Additionally some foster carers may receive a fee payment.
The Choice Protects Programme is supported by a £113 million grant over three years. In 2004–05 this amounts to £30 million for local authorities. This money can be used to improve payments for foster carers.