§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further consideration has been given by his Department to a minimum boarding-out allowance for children in care of local authorities.
§ Mr. MoyleI have no power to impose minimum scales of boarding-out allowances on local authorities and any move towards greater uniformity is a matter for the authorities themselves working through their associations. Following consultation with my Department, the local authority associations have, however, begun work on guidelines with a view to bringing about greater uniformity, and they hope to be able to make recommendations in time for the 1979–80 rate support grant. Individual local authorities will be free to accept or reject these recommendations.