§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to change the funding mechanisms for remand fostering schemes; [83896]
(2) what studies he has commissioned into the relative cost and efficacy of (a) remand fostering schemes for juveniles and (b) remand in (i) secure units, (ii) young offender institutions and (iii) prisons; [83897]
(3) what plans he has to encourage wider use of remand fostering for juveniles. [83898]
§ Mr. HuttonEvery local authority determines its own need for remand fostering schemes. Funding for this and other special fostering schemes is found from within existing annual budgets. There are no plans to change this.
In 1994, the National Foster Care Association (NFCA) published a report "On Remand: Foster Care and the Youth Justice Service". This national survey of remand fostering provision identified 29 local authorities operating such schemes. A 1998 NFCA report "Focus on Teenage Fostering" found that provision for remand fostering has since increased.
The Government have not commissioned any relative cost and efficacy studies into the areas referred to. However, one of the objectives of the Quality Protects programme launched in September 1998 is to increase placement choice for all children in local authority care. This will include provision for remand fostering.
238WThe Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales has a development fund of £85 million over the next three years. The YJB will make grants to local authorities and other agencies for the development of good practice in the provision of youth justice services and in other work to help prevent youth offending. £35 million has been earmarked for bail support and supervision schemes and for other remand-related initiatives, which could include the development of good practice in remand fostering work. The YJB would be interested to receive bids in this area.