§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the policy of the Government towards the shortage of foster parents in Portsmouth and other similar communities; and whether he will initiate discussions with all relevant local authorities on methods of urgently overcoming this problem.
§ Sir K. JosephThe shortage of foster parents is a national problem, particularly in the cities. Local authorities are experimenting with various methods of overcoming the shortage, and we are in touch with them through our regional social work service, which watches these experiments and helps evaluate them.